TITLE: A Fine Vintage
AUTHOR: Bess
E-MAIL: sildil@livejournal.com
RATING: PG13
SUMMARY: A short story: Aragorn and Legolas find two children lost in Mirkwood.
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing of Middle Earth or any of Tolkien’s worlds or characters. Everything recognizable belongs to JRR Tolkien; anything else belongs to me. I have no permission to use these characters and will receive no money for this story. This story is written for enjoyment only. Please do not use my original characters or situations without asking first. Thank you.
The small, dirty boy was crying. He was cold, wet, lost and hungry, and all alone in the middle of the forest. But like all very young children, he was easily distracted and suddenly, catching sight of a brightly coloured butterfly, he turned his grubby, tearstained face towards the pretty thing and chuckled. His tinkling laughter rang through the little woodland glade that he sat in and filtered through the surrounding trees.
A slightly older boy came crashing through the undergrowth, equally grubby and equally cold, wet and lost but far, far hungrier as he had given all his remaining food to his little brother who now smiled up at him and pointed delightedly to the fluttering creature.
“There you are! I have been so worried about you! Don’t ever, EVER wander off like that again, Edwin!” He cried, angry with fear and frustration.
The small boy frowned, and his lips trembled again as he heard the cross words.
“Oh now, please don’t cry, I didn’t mean to upset you!” Said the older boy, picking up the child. Edwin clung on with arms and legs wrapped tightly around him, and the two of them made their way on through the trees, looking, as always, for the path.
They had been travelling like this for the best part of a week, trying to head northwards through the dark forest of Mirkwood. The older child, Kit, had been trying to find the right direction, but the skies were heavy and clouded, both day and night, with no sun and no stars to guide him, and he had come to the unwelcome conclusion that they had been wandering around in circles for the past three days.
He tried not to think of what was going to happen to them both. Their food had run out the day before and although the boy had tried to catch a rabbit once, he wasn’t very good at hunting and it got away easily. He could hear unpleasant scuttlings in the trees overhead too, especially during the previous night, when he had sat up and kept watch over his baby brother as he slept. He feared that they might be noises from the fearsome Mirkwood spiders he had heard tell of.
He was painfully tired. He dared not rest for even a moment. In fact, the last time he had closed his eyes in exhaustion for just a second was when Edwin had wandered off and he had snapped awake after a few moments to find the child gone. His blood had run cold when he thought of all the things that could have happened to his brother and it was this fear that had made him so furious and lash out with his tongue when he saw him sitting, safely in the glade.
Kit stumbled on for a short while, struggling bravely with the awkward weight of the little boy in his arms, but then an unseen tree root caught his ankle and he fell, twisting clumsily to avoid hurting the smaller child, landing heavily on one arm.
He yelped with the sudden sharp pain, for a very brief moment all went black, and when his senses returned, he was aware of a terrible ache in his wrist. He cursed loudly and vehemently. Little Edwin’s lip began to tremble again, and a sob caught in his throat.
“No, please, Win, don’t cry, it’s all right, look.” Said Kit, wincing and scooting across to where his brother had tumbled in their fall. “Are you hurt?” the older boy said, hastily examining the little one, while trying not to move his injured arm.
“No, you are unharmed, thank goodness. Hush, hush.” He said, comforting the child and swallowing against the nausea that threatened to rise with the agony that he felt. He sat there, unwilling to move for quite some time, trying to fight the pain, talking reassuringly to Edwin all the while. Kit was very aware that the day was rapidly drawing to a close and they needed to find shelter for the night, especially since he now had an injury to contend with. When he thought that he could move again, he stood shakily and took his little brother by the hand with his good arm.
“Come on now, dear, you’re going to have to walk a bit I’m afraid. Can you do that?” The small boy looked up trustingly at his older brother and smiled. Wobbling a bit, as he battled against the increasing dizziness he felt, Kit led the pair of them on, deeper into the darkening forest.
*****
The unusual combination of elf and human had followed the hind for some while now, but it was proving to be most elusive, even for the elf’s keen hunting skills.
“I think this creature has the better of us, Legolas.” Said the dark-haired human, drawing his horse to a halt beside the fair, woodland elf.
“I think you are right, Estel.” Sighed the elf in frustration. He looked around at the gathering gloom. “And it is getting dark, I suggest that we make camp for the night. We will never make it back to the palace by nightfall, this animal has led us on a fair chase.”
The young man nodded in agreement and they both set about preparing themselves for the night, falling into the ease and routine of old friends and travelling companions.
The young human, in his early twenties, was Aragorn, son of Arathorn, the Heir of Isildur, a Dunedain and Ranger of the North, foster son of the Lord of Imladris and renowned healer, Lord Elrond half-elven. At least, in theory. To the elf beside him and to his twin foster brothers, Elladan and Elrohir, he was Estel, an elvish name given to him by Lord Elrond to protect his identity as he was growing up, and the seemingly ageless elves that he lived with sometimes found it hard to remember that he was not a reckless and impatient child any more, but a young adult, though in truth, he often forgot that fact himself.
His fair friend was Legolas Greenleaf, son of Thranduil the King of Mirkwood, and he had known the young human for many years, since meeting him while on a visit to Rivendell. At first the elf had been suspicious of the boy, he had no natural love of humans, but the obvious affection that Elrond’s natural sons had for their foster brother together with the young boy’s enthusiasm for life had won his heart, and they became firm friends.
They had been on many wild adventures together in the past, but on this occasion the young man had come to Mirkwood along with his brothers, as they brought a message to the King from their father, and he had taken the opportunity to spend some time relaxing with his friend.
They lay side by side, bundled in their blankets and talking over the day’s events and inconsequential gossip about people they both knew in Rivendell and Mirkwood, and about the latest escapades Elladan and Elrohir had been involved in.
“…..and how was I supposed to know that Ro was lying when he told me that Father wanted Ell to come to his study immediately? He knew that if I asked him to come he would, and when Ell boldly marched in on Father’s very delicate meeting with three extremely cantankerous dwarves, singing, ‘There was an elf that loved a lass’, loudly, you can imagine what Father said, and did!”
Legolas laughed. The twins were always trying to get each other into trouble, and behaved like they were in their twenties instead of being hundreds of years old, like himself. “Was Lord Elrond cross with you?”
“Not this time! He was annoyed at first, until he found out that Ro had asked me to get Ell. Then he put Ro on stable duties for a fortnight, and Ell on kitchen duties for a week because he should have knocked before entering! Fortunately, one of the dwarves had a young son and so he and Father began swapping outrageous stories and in the end their meeting went well, but Father is not going to let the twins know that just yet, not until we return from Mirkwood!”
The elf chuckled some more and then quietened and became thoughtful. His family consisted of just him and his father. His mother had left for the Havens when he was a very young elfling, and he had no siblings. He envied the close, comfortable affection of the Rivendell family. His own father loved him dearly, he knew that, but he was a stern and serious elf. This was one reason that Legolas enjoyed spending time with Aragorn and his brothers.
“When do you plan to return, Estel?”
“Not just yet, if you are happy for us to stay a while. Father does not expect us.”
“Good.” Said the elf, smiling to himself. “Get some rest, Estel, I will watch over us.” He added, and smiled again as he heard the man mumble something, already half asleep.
*****
Late into the night, Legolas sat up, alert to a small unidentifiable sound. He listened closely, trying to locate it. Just when he thought he must have imagined it he heard it again and this time he recognised it as the cry of a child, possibly a very young child.
“Estel?” He gently shook the man awake. “Estel, there is someone out there, can you hear it? Listen.”
Aragorn sat up, shaking the sleep from his head and concentrated on the silence for a moment. A plaintive whimper echoed through the trees.
“Yes, I heard it that time. Where is it coming from?”
Legolas pointed towards a dense thicket of holly to the side of the path ahead. “ I think it came from there.” He said, getting up and cautiously approaching the undergrowth.
Aragorn stood and drew his sword quietly, following the prince stealthily.
The elf edged forwards, carefully pulled aside the prickly branches and gave a gasp at what he saw. A small, dishevelled and grubby human child sat snivelling beside the pale, unconscious form of a very young boy.
“Estel, quickly, take the babe, the boy is hurt.” Said Legolas, reaching in and handing the toddler to Aragorn. He then pushed his way into the bush and carefully lifted the child into his arms. The boy moaned feverishly as he was pulled out of his hiding place.
“He must have crawled in there for safety.” Said Aragorn following the elf back to their camp as they both carried their burdens. “That was sensible.”
“Sensible, but he was lucky the little one cried or we would not have found them.” Said the elf, examining the older child lying in front of him. “His arm is broken, and he has a fever.” He said. “We must get him home to the palace, we cannot treat him here.”
Aragorn nodded and began to pack away their camp and prepare the horses. “It looks as if they have been travelling alone for quite some time too, this little one is very thin. I don’t think they have eaten for some days.”
The friends mounted their horses, Aragorn took the baby in his arms, while Legolas held the boy in front of him on his mount and they set off in the pre-dawn for the prince’s home.
*****
As usual, Elladan was up and about scrounging for an early breakfast when he saw his foster brother and the prince arrive home with their unusual finds.
“What have we here, Legolas?” said the amused elf. “I did not think you went hunting children?”
“We came across them both, lost in the woods. The little one is too young to speak and the older lad is hurt. His arm is broken and he is running a temperature. He has not regained consciousness since we found him.” Explained Aragorn, climbing down from his horse after handing the smallest child to Elladan.
Legolas beckoned two elves standing by and together they manoeuvred the older boy onto the ground. The prince dismounted and sent one of the elves to find the palace healer at once and the other to prepare a room and food for the two children.
The healer came quickly and examined the boy. “It is not a serious injury, your highness, but it has become infected, and both children are very dehydrated. I will take care of them at once.” He said, and called for servants to carry the children to their prepared rooms.
“I wonder what in Arda they were doing wandering around Mirkwood alone?” Mused the prince. He called for one of the palace guards.
“Celebithil, take a search party and see what you can find. We found them less than a day’s ride along the forest path to the north. They look as if they have been wandering around for at least a week, so spread out and search the area around where we found them. Report back as soon as you find anything.” The guard nodded and left, calling together five or six of his friends.
“Do many men travel through Mirkwood forest, Legolas?” asked Elladan.
“Not very many, but the Old Forest Road passes close by the palace, and many use it on their way to Lake-town. They may have wandered from their path, though if anything had happened to them while actually on the road, we would have known. Our patrols guard the way night and day.”
*****
Early that evening when the healer had finished with them, Legolas and Aragorn went to see how the children fared. They had been given a small, cosy room, and when the two friends entered they were pleased to see the boy sitting up in bed, his arm securely bound with a splint and resting on pillows. The little tot was peacefully asleep in a large cot by his side after a bath and a warm meal of porridge and milk.
“I am glad to see you awake, young one.” Said the elf, sitting on the end of the boy’s bed.
“So am I. How is your arm?” asked Aragorn.
“Much better, thank you. Are you the two who found me and my brother?” asked the boy.
“Yes, we are. I am Estel, and this is Legolas. We were very lucky that this little one cried, or we would not have known you were there.” Said Aragorn, looking into the cot of the sleeping child.
“I didn’t know what to do.” Said the lad, his face clouding with the memory of his anxiety. “My arm hurt so, and I was afraid that Edwin would wander off again…..he did it once before when I fell asleep. I thought that the holly might stop him from crawling away, and keep us safe from any wild animals.”
“You did very well to protect your little brother.” Said Legolas.
“His name is Edwin? And what is yours, my friend?” asked Aragorn.
“Kit.”
“Well, Kit, can you tell us what you were doing wandering through Mirkwood all alone?” Said the prince gently.
The boy frowned unhappily. “We were travelling with our father to Lake-town. We were going to live with our maternal grandparents.” He paused. “Our mother died.” Kit sniffed a little, but tried to hide it with a little cough.
“I am sorry to hear that, please go on.” Said Aragorn, pretending he hadn’t noticed the boy’s tears, since he obviously didn’t want anyone to see him cry.
“Father thought he knew a short cut, to save the long journey around, and we were doing well, but then there were some orcs…..” Kit faltered.
Aragorn sat beside the child on the bed, putting an arm around his shoulders. “Do not speak yet if you do not want to.” He said sympathetically.
Legolas nodded in agreement, and took the boy’s hand in his. “Tell us as much as you wish. We can come back later if you would rather.”
“No, I want to tell you.” Kit said bravely. “We were chased by orcs. We had all been riding on our old pack horse, and Father put Win and me into a tree and told me to stay with him. He said he would lead the orcs away from us…..he…..he rode away, and the creatures followed him. He said he’d be back, and I waited with Win for ages, until it was nearly dark, but he didn’t return….”
Kit began to tremble and his tears began to fall.
“…..I didn’t want Win to come with me, so I tied his belt to the tree to keep him safe and went to look for Father. I didn’t have to go far, when…..when I….I found what was…..left of him, and the remains of our horse.” Kit began to sob wildly at the horrors that he had seen and Aragorn held him tightly to his chest, soothing his back with gentle pats.
“Cry, little one, do not be ashamed to grieve for your parents. I lost both of mine when I was no older than you. I know how much it hurts to lose someone you love. You took care of your brother, that is what matters. Your mother and father would be proud of you. You are both safe now.” the young man comforted the wailing child, his own eyes holding back tears as he remembered the pain of his own loss.
Legolas looked sadly at the child in his friend’s arms. He had lost his mother too, but so many hundreds of years ago that the feelings of bereavement were unfamiliar to him now, and in any case, she had not died but had gone to the Undying Lands in the West and he knew he would see her again one day. The prince understood that the boy’s distress was something that Aragorn felt keenly. The young man was by far the right person to console the child.
When Kit had calmed a little, and Aragorn had given him a drink of water, Legolas smiled encouragingly at him. “Well, our next task is to find your grandparents and take you to them, I think. Do they live in Lake-town? What are their names?”
Kit frowned. “Yes, they do live in Lake-town, but I have only ever known them as Grandpa and Grandma. I am sorry.”
“Well, what of your family name? what is that?”
“I am Kit, son of Madoc, the vintner, my father used to trade wine with Lake-town, my Grandpa sells it. They have done so for years, I even think my Great-grandpa used to sell it too.”
“I know them! “ Said Legolas enthusiastically. “Your family have been supplying the palace with wine for many many years. In fact, your Great-great-great-great grandfather used to come here often and share a glass of wine with me and my father.”
Kit’s eyes widened and nearly popped out of his head. “But…..but that is impossible! You are only young, you cannot be old enough!”
Aragorn laughed. “Legolas is an elf, my little friend. He is hundreds of years old, even though he often behaves like an irresponsible elfling!”
“Only when I am with you or your brothers!” Protested the elf indignantly. “I am normally very well behaved!”
Kit looked a little bewildered and Aragorn noticed his face was a little flushed. “Come now, you must rest, Kit. You have had an exhausting few days. Lie down and get some sleep. We will come back soon and tell you what we are going to do to find your family.”
Legolas smiled. “Aragorn is right. The healer will look in on you shortly and see if you need anything, and do not worry about Edwin, someone will hear when he wakes and will take care of his needs.”
Kit smiled gratefully and the friends watched his eyes close as his head hit the pillow. They trimmed the lights and quietly left the room.
*****
Four days later Celebithil’s search party returned with bad news. Kit had been right, the boys father had been killed in the orc attack, there was no doubt. It was decided that the twins would return home to Imladris and tell Lord Elrond that Aragorn was going to stay with Legolas for the time being and accompany him and the children to Lake-town to reunite them with their family. It would be a straightforward undertaking, especially as the prince knew who they were looking for, and as soon as they had finished their task, the young man would return home.
Elladan and Elrohir set off early the next morning heading west, and Aragorn, Legolas and the two boys set off in the opposite direction, waving goodbye to the twins as they parted.
The grey clouds had thickened and there was the smell of rain in the air. Aragorn and Legolas had brought plenty of food and supplies for the journey, and bedding for the four of them. Normally any goods that the elves wished to trade with their human neighbours went by river to Lake-town, but it would take a couple of days to reach the settlement by road, especially with the young children.
Edwin sat in front of Aragorn on his horse on a specially adapted saddle so that the small child felt secure and the young man had his hands free to hold the reins. Kit sat behind Legolas, holding the elf around the waist.
“Did you really know my Great-great-great-great grandfather Legolas?” asked the boy after they had been travelling some time.
“Yes, I did indeed, and in fact your little brother, Edwin takes after him. He has the same reddish tinge to his hair and green eyes, and even a similar dimple in his chin.”
Kit pondered this for the next few miles. He could not believe that this youthful creature was as old as he said he was.
“Pardon me for asking, Legolas, but do elves not grow old and die, ever?”
“No, curious one, we do not. We do not get ill. We can be slain in battle or, in some circumstances, die of grief, but no disease or sickness touches us.”
“I wish that were so for us.” Sighed the boy. “If it were, then our mother would not have left us, we would have been able to stay in our village, and Father would still be alive.”
The elf’s heart went out to the child. He was so young and had already in his short life had to bear more than most people far older.
“Your mother was not killed in an accident then?” asked Aragorn.
“No, she got sick. Several people in our village did. That was why Father wanted us to leave. He was right to bring us away, as neither of us got ill.” Said Kit, a little defensively.
“I’m sure that he did what he thought was best, Kit.” Said Aragorn, warmly.
They rode on in silence for a little while longer, and then Legolas felt the boy tremble a little against his back.
“I miss them.” Kit whispered.
“It is right that you should, young one. You hold them in a high place in your heart and you will always feel their loss. In time your pain will ease, but not yet.” Said the elf.
Kit felt a little better at Legolas’ words, as if he had been given permission to grieve.
They stopped briefly for a lunch of bread and cheese, and then journeyed on until late afternoon, when Aragorn called a halt.
“It looks as though the rain will be here soon.” He said, gazing at the glowering sky. “I think we should look for a shelter for the night, Legolas.”
“Agreed. I remember there is a small cave not that far from here which will serve our purpose well.”
Aragorn sniggered. “A cave, Legolas? Did I hear you correctly? Did you suggest a cave? Surely not? Not a dark, damp, dismal cave?”
The elf rolled his eyes. He had asked for that comment from his friend. Aragorn knew how much the elf hated any ‘hole in the ground’ and usually resisted any attempt by Aragorn to get him inside one.
“This is a different sort of cave.” Said Legolas, “much more open and airy than usual. More of a hollow in a cliff face than a cave.” He added, trying to defend his suggestion.
“You realise I will *never* let you forget this don’t you!” Teased his friend.
“Yes, I do, unfortunately.” Said the elf with a pained expression.
Kit had looked from one to the other during their conversation, increasingly bewildered. “What is wrong with a cave?” he asked the elf.
“Legolas will no doubt tell you later, when he has an hour or two!” laughed Aragorn.
*****
The travellers reached their shelter just as the storm broke and the rain began to fall heavily. Legolas was right, the cave was light and dry and they quickly spread out their bed rolls and Aragorn found some dry wood and made a fire.
Edwin was grizzly and irritable. His brother went over to where he sat and gave him a cuddle, but the toddler struggled and whimpered in his arms. The older boy frowned. Neither Legolas nor Aragorn were used to dealing with small children and didn’t know whether this was usual behaviour or not. They took no notice, but continued to prepare the evening meal.
Kit tried to soothe the little child, tickling him, bouncing him on his knees, but to no avail. Edwin just wailed harder, and now Aragorn and Legolas both looked across at Kit’s desperate attempts to calm the child.
“I do not know what is wrong with him, he is not usually so grumpy and cross.” Complained Kit.
Aragorn came over to look at the unhappy infant, and took him into his arms. “There, there. What’s wrong little fellow?” The man frowned and briefly touched the child’s forehead. “He is very hot, Legolas, come and see.”
The elf put down his knife, leaving the food preparation, and came over to where Aragorn stood holding the crying Edwin against his shoulder. Legolas also felt the child’s skin.
“You are right, Estel, he is burning up. No wonder he is cross.”
“We must get him cooler.” Said Aragorn. He gently placed the little boy on a bedroll on the ground, and began to remove his outer clothes. “Perhaps he has just got overheated, it is quite a mild day, and he has been snuggled close to me while we rode.”
Kit came and watched as Aragorn nervously undressed Edwin. The little boy squirmed and cried even more as the cool air hit his skin as if it caused him pain. As the last item of clothing, his little silk vest, was removed, Kit gave a cry of distress.
“What is it? Did I do something wrong?” Said Aragorn anxiously, he was not used to undressing small children and thought he had hurt the baby.
“No, no it was not you! Look! “ And Kit pointed to the tiny red spots spread across his brother’s chest.
Aragorn and Legolas could see the fine rash now that it had been pointed out to them.
“What is it, Kit? I have never seen such a thing.” Said Legolas.
“Edwin is sick! He is ill like Mother was! She had a rash just like that, and a fever!”
The man and the elf looked at each other in alarm. “what can we do, Kit?” Asked Legolas. “What did the people in your village do to help her?”
Kit wailed, distraught. “They couldn’t do anything, she got sicker and sicker and then she died! What am I going to do? Why does everyone leave me?” He sobbed.
Aragorn took hold of Kit’s shoulders and gripped them firmly, trying to calm the panicking boy.
“Listen, your brother is *not* going to die. I will do everything I can to help him. My father is a great healer, and he has taught me many, many things. I will leave you here with Legolas for a very little while, and I will go and find some herbs and plants that I know will bring down the fever. Stay calm, and keep Edwin cool. Legolas will collect some rain water and you can use it to dampen a cloth and sponge his skin. It will help him feel a lot better.”
“Estel is right, Kit. He has saved me lots of times when I have been injured or poisoned. Trust him.”
Kit’s crying eased and he rubbed his sleeve across his eyes. He looked up and saw Aragorn and Legolas smile encouragingly at him and nodded. “I’ll do what ever you tell me, Legolas. But please hurry, Estel.” He said and went to comfort his brother.
Legolas followed Aragorn to the mouth of the cave. “Can you save the child?” He whispered.
Aragorn glanced back in to where the boys rested by the fire. He looked at Legolas and the elf saw the worry in his friend’s eyes. “I hope so.” The young man said grimly, and set off into the rain.
*****
Two hours later, Legolas was beginning to fear that Edwin was going to die. The infant had whimpered and cried for the first hour and nothing had lowered his raging fever. The rash had spread frighteningly rapidly, and now covered his whole body. Kit had done his best to cool his brother’s skin and Legolas had tried to get the baby to drink water, to stop him getting dehydrated, but to no avail.
Then things took a turn for the worse. The exhausted child had stopped his wailing and lay limp and unmoving on the bedroll, his breathing shallow and fast and his eyes closed. Kit was beside himself in despair.
“ Where is Estel?” He wept.
“He will return, Kit, he said that he would.” Said the prince with more confidence than he felt. “I just wish you would hurry friend.” He added to himself.
Just as the elf had given up hope that his friend would return before it was too late, he heard the welcome sound of the man’s footsteps scraping on the rock outside, and Aragorn entered the cave, wet and bedraggled but clutching a bunch of assorted leaves and roots in his hand.
“Quickly.” Urged the elf, leading him to the sick infant.
Aragorn paled when he saw how much little Edwin had deteriorated in the short time he had been away, but pushed his fears aside and set to, boiling water and crushing herbs and leaves to make a medicinal infusion for the child. The fragrant smell soon filled the cave, easing the fears of all of them.
As soon as the liquid was cool enough, Aragorn took the child in his arms and began the slow process of feeding the tea to Edwin, drop by drop. At first, more trickled down the baby’s chin than found its way into his mouth, but gradually, as the little boy’s fever began to settle, he swallowed the brew thirstily, each mouthful bringing a better colour to his skin.
After an hour of slow and steady progress, Edwin opened his eyes and gave a little smile and a sigh and then dozed off in a perfectly natural sleep.
Aragorn laid the child down carefully and covered him with a light blanket. He stretched his shoulder and eased the muscles in his neck. Legolas handed his friend a warm drink and some food that he had prepared.
“You are exhausted, Estel, you must rest. Edwin will be fine now. You have done very well my friend.”
“ Yes, thank you, Estel.” Said Kit, giving the man a sudden hug. “Thank you for saving him.”
Aragorn returned the boy’s embrace with a smile. “I am glad I was able to do so. Now, you get some rest as well. Tomorrow will be a long day if we are to reach Lake-town by nightfall.”
“I will watch over you all till the morning. Sleep now.” ordered the elf, and the humans obeyed willingly.
*****
Legolas let them all sleep late into the morning the next day. They had plenty of time to reach the town and he knew that they all needed their rest after the stressful night. He woke them when the sun was half way into the sky and they all shared a quick breakfast. Edwin was much better, his rash was nearly gone and looked less angry and his temperature was back to normal again.
Aragorn and Legolas had discussed the child’s illness and decided that he must have had a mild form of the disease that took his mother, as once Aragorn had found the plants he needed, it had responded very quickly to the medicinal infusion. The young man could not believe that the village healer had not known what was actually a very basic skill in bringing down a fever.
The two friends set off with their charges and after a couple of short stops to refresh the horses they soon reached the shores of the great lake and saw Lake-town spread before them.
The town was built out over the water itself, supported on large timber piles that were driven into the lake’s bed. Aragorn, carrying Edwin, and Legolas, with Kit still sitting behind him, rode along the timber causeway that gave access to the town.
Many people stopped to look at the little party, curious to see an elf, a man and two children travelling together. Legolas had visited the town many times in the past, though not in the last hundred years or so, and so he was not recognised by any there. However, the townsfolk were not unused to Mirkwood elves visiting them occasionally for as Legolas had said, a healthy trade existed between the two peoples.
They made their way to the centre of the town, the Market Pool and Great Hall. Legolas was certain that the boys Grandparents would be well known, especially since they were such a long-established family of wine merchants. News of their arrival had spread by the time they reached the Great Hall, and the town Mayor was already there to greet them.
“Welcome, friends. Please, dismount and take advantage of our hospitality. You look as though you have been travelling far.” The Mayor said, a little cautiously. Strangers were not common in his out- of-the-way town.
“We have indeed, thank you.” Said Aragorn. “Though my Silvan friend and I have not had so far to come as these two children. We are looking for their Grandparents, we understand that they live here.”
The Mayor peered at Kit who by now was standing by Legolas and holding his little brother in his arms. “What would their names be, child?” He asked gently.
“ I am sorry, I do not know their names, but Legolas here thinks he knows of them.” He said, pointing to the elf beside him.
“I remember visiting here a very long time ago, and sharing a glass of wine with one of the child’s distant relatives. He was a wine importer and supplied my father with much of his wine. The boy’s father was a vintner. Does that help you to know who it might be?” asked the prince.
The Mayor thought for a moment, then smiled broadly at Kit. “Yes, yes I think I know who your Grandpa is child.” And he summoned one of his assistants to his side. “Go to the house of Caleth, tell him to come here quickly, he has visitors.”
The man ran off and soon returned with a slightly blustery and out of breath elderly gentleman in his wake.
“What’s all this about surprise guests, I hope this isn’t…..well, bless me, if it isn’t Kit!” He gave the boy a huge hug and then spotted Edwin. “And little Win! What are you doing here, and why didn’t your mother send word that you were coming?”
Kit’s face crumpled a little, and the old man spotted his distress instantly. He looked gravely at Aragorn and Legolas. “Is there something I should know?”
Aragorn nodded, his eyes sad. “Perhaps we could go somewhere to talk? It is a long story, and not a happy one my friend, I am very sorry.”
The boys’ Grandfather frowned and gave a heavy sigh. He took a moment to prepare himself, he knew that there would be bad news coming, he had guessed it the moment that he saw Edwin and Kit in the company of strangers. “Come with me to my house. My wife will take care of the lads, and we can talk.”
“Thank you.” Said Aragorn, and he and Legolas followed the man as he led his grandchildren to his home.
*****
Some time later, after many tears and warm hugs, the two boys were tucked up in their beds and Aragorn, Legolas and the elderly couple were sharing a meal and a flask of wine by the warm, cosy fire.
“I am forever in your debt, sirs. Thank you for bringing my grandchildren safely to me, and especially for taking care of little Edwin. It is heartbreaking to lose our daughter and son-in-law, but if we had lost Win as well…..it does not bear thinking about.”
“We were glad to help, we have grown fond of both of them. Your grandson, Kit, is a very brave and fine lad. He took great care of his little brother, both before we found them in the woods and when Edwin was ill.”
“Aye, he takes after his father. He was a fine man, he would have been very proud today.” The old man drew out a large handkerchief and blew his nose loudly, shaking away his tears, but his wife quietly sobbed into her apron. Suddenly their quiet lives had changed and they had not only lost a dear daughter and her much-loved husband, but gained two young children. They all sat staring thoughtfully into the flickering firelight for a while in comforting silence.
“So, master elf, tell me, did you really know my Great-great grandfather?”
Legolas smiled. “Indeed I did. It is true what I told Kit. Your Great-great grandfather would often come to my home and share a flask of wine with my father and myself.”
“Well, well! So it is true then! For a long time we have had a tradition in our family to raise our glasses and toast the King of the Mirkwood Elves whenever we open a new cask. Many people have thought it strange, but we have always done it. Now I understand why!”
“I will be sure to tell my father when I see him, he will be delighted to know that he is remembered so well!” laughed the prince.
“Your father?” said the man in surprise. “Please do not say that ‘he’ is the King? That would mean that you are….a…...a prince! Please, forgive us, your Highness, for our discourtesy.” The elderly couple both leapt to their feet and began bowing and curtseying respectfully.
Legolas stood quickly and gently pushed the nervous couple back into their chairs. “Please, my dear friends, do not treat me in this way! I am simply, ‘Legolas’, and you have shown us both great courtesey and hospitality in welcoming us into your home. I would have it no other way.”
Aragorn smiled and poured them all some more wine. “Come, let us revive the tradition.” He raised his glass. “To the King of the Mirkwood Elves!”
“To the King, to his son, Legolas, and to his friend…..?” added the old man.
“…..Estel!” Said Legolas, using the name that the children knew Aragorn by.
“…..and to Estel! And long may you be welcome in our home!”
The four people talked late into the night about the future of the two children asleep in the little bedroom under the roof and both Legolas and Aragorn promised to visit whenever they could. They were both very fond of the lads and intended to make sure that they and their grandparents wanted for nothing. They had had a lot of heartache and now deserved some joy in their lives.
The two friends stayed in Lake-town for three more days, to ensure that Kit and Edwin were both settled and then set off on the return journey to Mirkwood, well supplied with two flagons of fine vintage wine as a parting gift from the boys’ grandfather and more than enough food for their travels pressed upon them by his grateful wife.
*****
Aragorn and Legolas travelled slowly, they had no urgent need to return to the palace, and the weather had turned fine after several weeks of grey cloud, rain and drizzle. It was very pleasant to amble along in the sunshine, letting the horses set their own pace. Since they had been well provided for by Caleth and his wife and the weather was warm and dry, they chose not to stop at Legolas’ home, but continue on and make for Rivendell, as Aragorn felt that he should return to his home.
They had been travelling for four days, and reached a point deep in the heart of Mirkwood and decided to stop for the night. Aragorn dismounted and began to unpack their bedding rolls. Legolas searched for wood and started a small campfire on which to prepare their supper.
As he began unpacking the food, he glanced across to Aragorn and was puzzled to see him already lying down on his blanket. “Is there something wrong, Estel? Are you tired?” Legolas asked, moving over to where the man lay.
Aragorn had thrown his arm across his eyes, and grunted as if asleep.
“Estel?” said the elf, concerned. It was most unlike his friend to tire so quickly. “Estel, what is the matter?”
Aragorn moaned a little. “I have a sudden headache, that is all, Legolas. I will be fine in a moment.”
Legolas frowned and poured some water into a cup and gave it to his friend. “Here, drink, it will help you feel a bit better.”
Aragorn took it gratefully and sipped a little, then groaned suddenly, dropping the cup and grabbing at his head in pain. “It hurts!” he cried and fell back onto his blanket.
Legolas stared at the young man anxiously as he twisted and moaned. “Estel, what is happening? What is wrong, tell me?”
He reached for Aragorn’s shoulders and tried to hold him still. The elf was afraid that the man would hurt himself, he was thrashing so. Aragorn could not speak for the agony that pounded through his head.
Where Legolas gripped his friend’s shoulders he was alarmed to feel the man trembling and the intense heat of his skin. Aragorn had a fever.
Legolas swallowed nervously and reached down, pulling open the young man’s tunic, hoping not to find the fine red spots that had covered little Edwin’s chest a few days ago, but his heart sank when he saw the tell-tale rash on his friend’s feverish skin.
“Oh, Estel, no!” He cried in despair.
Legolas was furious with himself. How could he have been so incredibly stupid? Why did he not remember that Aragorn might get sick? His friend had spent the whole night nursing Edwin, and he and the child had ridden together for the whole of their journey. He was a human, and humans got sick. Why, oh why had he not at least made sure that they had kept some of the plants and herbs that Aragorn had used to help the boy?
And the children’s mother had died. Lots of people in her village had died. Of the same disease. The very thing that now seemed to be infecting his friend. The distraught and frightened elf took a moment to calm himself. Panicking would not help Aragorn and there was no doubt that the young human needed his help.
All Legolas could do was to try and keep the man cool and to get as much water in him as possible, as they had for Edwin. He began by stripping off Aragorn’s tunic. He wanted to save the water they had for drinking, so he decided to use the wine they had been given to sponge his friend’s skin.
As the cool air hit Aragorn’s body he shivered uncontrollably, though he still felt burning hot to the touch. Legolas took one of the blankets and tore a length off and soaked it in the wine. He sponged his friend’s chest and back, but Aragorn struggled weakly as it was obviously causing him discomfort.
Legolas decided to try to get the young man to drink some of the water. He put his arm under Aragorn’s shoulder and lifted him up a little. He took the flask of water and put it to his friend’s lips.
“Come on, Estel, try and drink.” He pleaded.
Aragorn groaned a little and took a small sip of the water, and then another. He opened his eyes and looked blearily at Legolas.
“Wha.....?” His head fell back again.
“Estel, please, a little more.” Coaxed the prince. Aragorn sighed heavily and reached up a shaky hand for the flask. Legolas tipped a little more of the liquid into the young man’s mouth.
Aragorn tried to sit up a little and Legolas eased him forwards, grabbing some of the bed roll to try to make a cushion for his back.
“How is your head, Estel?”
Aragorn took a shaky breath. “Hurts. A lot.” He swallowed. “I am sick, aren’t I?”
“Yes, I am afraid you are my friend.” Said Legolas sadly.
The young man cursed under his breath. He shivered and reached for a blanket.
“Here.” Said the prince, pulling one around his shoulders. One minute Aragorn was feverish, the next he seemed chilled to the bone. He closed his eyes tightly against the firelight.
“It seems so bright.....hurts.” He murmured.
Aragorn’s comment worried Legolas, the fire had died down quite a bit since the elf had not been able to attend to it and it really was not bright at all. The young man moaned suddenly and rolled to his side, clutching at his stomach.
“Feel.....sick.....” Before Legolas could do anything to make his friend comfortable, Aragorn retched and brought up the little water that he had drunk earlier. Legolas nearly wept in despair. After all the effort to get the young man to drink, the little that he had swallowed was now wasted.
Aragorn rolled on to his back and threw off his blanket, sweat breaking out over his forehead. His fever had returned, and the anxious elf began to sponge his friend again with the cool wine, wondering if this nightmare would ever end.
“Legolas, w....watch out.....NO!.....” Aragorn began to mumble deliriously, flailing his arms as if fighting an unseen foe. He caught the elf round the head, stunning him a little.
“Estel, it is all right, I am here, nothing is wrong!” Said Legolas, trying to calm the young man. Aragorn struggled, pushing the elf away and managing to rise to his feet. He staggered for a few feet and then collapsed again, gasping for breath.
The elf rushed to his friend’s side. “Estel, you must try to lie still, please.” He pulled Aragorn into a more upright position and tried to steady him, to help him to breathe more steadily. The man’s eyes looked glazed and wild with panic as the air wheezed in his chest, obviously painfully, and the strenuous effort to breathe brought sweat to his brow.
Legolas placed a hand on Aragorn’s back and gently rubbed it rhythmically and steadily, murmuring comforting words in elvish, nonsense words really, as he might to a child, anything to get his friend not to panic and to let his breath flow naturally. After a few moments his efforts seemed to be working, and Aragorn took a deep, shuddery breath and relaxed against Legolas.
Aragorn looked up at the prince and his eyes focused momentarily. “I really.....do not.....feel at all.....well.” He whispered hoarsely.
“I am sure you do not, Estel. But I am here, I will help.” Said Legolas, soothingly.
“Th.....thirsty.”
The elf held the flask of water to his friend’s lips and Aragorn tried to swallow it too fast. Legolas stopped him.
“No, just sips, please. You could not stomach it earlier, and you must try to keep it down. You need water, my friend.” Aragorn did as Legolas asked and after his drink he lay back down on the ground, but it was of no use for within minutes he was retching and heaving until there was nothing left for him to bring up.
The same pattern occurred as before. After Aragorn’s violent sickness he broke out in a fresh fever and became delirious again, struggling feebly and mumbling incoherently, except this time he was a lot weaker.
Legolas switched between sponging his friend down when he broke out in a sweat and covering him with a blanket when the sudden chills brought goose bumps to his flesh. He tried to drip water into Aragorn’s parched lips, but the man refused it, pushing the elf’s hands away weakly.
Gradually Aragorn began to quieten and his moans and whimpers from the pain and discomfort he felt grew less. But this did not encourage Legolas, on the contrary, he realised that his friend was steadily growing weaker and weaker, and there was nothing he could do to halt his decline.
Once again, he bitterly regretted not thinking about the possibility that Aragorn could be defeated by something as simple as an illness. He had stood beside the man and faced many foes, but could not fight this battle with him. Tears came to his eyes as he thought that he had failed his friend. He should have remembered, thought about Aragorn’s humanity, but he was so close to the young man, that he often forgot that Aragorn was different to him. Legolas had lived for hundreds of years before this human had come into his life and become his friend.
No, more than a friend, the elf suddenly realised, his brother, and now it looked as though he would not last the night. No. He would ignore that possibility, he would not let Aragorn die. He *would* last the night, even if Legolas had to follow him to the very gates of death to plead for him, he would do it.
The ugly red rash now covered Aragorn’s body and he lay frighteningly still, his breath shallow and his pulse racing. Legolas continued to use the wine to dampen the cloth and try to cool his friend’s skin. He did not know if it was doing any good at all, but it was all he could think of.
A rasping whisper came from the young man’s throat, and Legolas bent down to listen.
“P.....please.....d.....don’t go.”
The elf looked at Aragorn sorrowfully. “ Of course I will not go! I am still here, Estel, right here.”
“I c.....couldn’t.....hear you.” He gave a sudden violent shiver.
“Oh, Estel, I am sorry, I will talk to you, and then you will know that I am here.” Cried Legolas, and gently wiped his friend’s forehead.
“Do you remember when you were very young and I came to visit your brothers? You were ill then, and very sorry for yourself. You must have been only about seven or eight years old, and Lord Elrond had made you stay in bed. You sneaked out to find Elladan and I found you wandering around outside in your nightshirt, in the cold. I told you off and made you go back to bed, and you were very cross with me.....I had no idea what to do.....I had never met a human child before. Actually, I was quite frightened I think, especially when you started to cry!.....”
Aragorn gave a small smile at the memory and Legolas went on, encouraged.
“.....Elladan found us and demanded to know what I had done to distress you.” Legolas chuckled. “He was angry with me for days afterwards.....he said that I was a typical insensitive Mirkwood elf, to upset a child so!”
The young man made a sound and the elf bent closer to hear him.
“You....scared.....me.....!” Whispered Aragorn weakly and gave a hoarse laugh.
“Did I? I did not mean to.....when you were better you took me to see your favourite spot by the river, do you remember? We fished and I showed you how to skim stones.....I had not played like that for hundreds of years.....”
“.....I skimmed.....more than you.....”
“.....yes, you managed to learn so quickly, my friend.”
Legolas stared sadly into the embers of the campfire, thinking of how fast his friend had grown. To the immortal elf it seemed as though barely seconds had passed since the friend lying before him had been a small child, now he was a grown man and soon.....soon he would be old and grey, and one day nothing would be able to stop the inevitable. For the first time in his long life Legolas was all too aware of the swift passing of time and the thought brought him pain. He made a silent vow that he would stay by his friend until that time, whenever it came, he just hoped and prayed that it would not be this night.
“I.....remember.....the first time I came.....to Mirkwood.....” His friend’s whisper broke into his thoughts and the prince smiled at the memory.
“So do I , Estel. You and your brothers came together.....like this last time, in fact. You must have been about.....twelve or thirteen.....”
“.....didn’t like.....spiders.....”
Legolas chuckled. “ No you certainly did not! Not that anyone in their right mind would, but you were shocked at how big they were! You wandered away from me on an ‘adventure’ when I was supposed to be looking after you,.....I was terrified that I’d lost you, and Elladan and Elrohir would kill me! I found you face to face with one of the largest spiders *I* had ever seen, with your bow drawn ready to kill it and I watched you with my bow at the ready, but you let fly and almost killed it with one shot, all I needed to do was finish it off.....”
“.....was glad to see you.....” Aragorn mumbled.
Legolas smiled. “ .....Not as glad as I was to see you safe and sound! I would *not* have liked to explain how you had been made into a Mirkwood spider’s dinner to Lord Elrond.”
Aragorn frowned. “I wish.....he was here.....”
Legolas grew alarmed. “Why, my friend?”
“W....would like.....to see him....” Aragorn’s breath suddenly came in quick gasps and his eyes filled with panic. “L.....Legolas?....”
“What is it? What is wrong?!” Legolas cried.
“.....I...can’t....b.....breathe!”
The prince grew alarmed as he watched Aragorn struggling desperately for breath. He raised him up in his arms and started to rub his back again as he had before, but this time it did not seem to help at all. Legolas watched in horror as the young man’s eyes fluttered shut.
“Estel! No!” The elf cried, clutching at his friend’s shoulders as if trying to hang on to his life.
Legolas frantically searched for a pulse but his fingers were shaking too much at first to find it. He sighed with relief when he found the thin, unsteady rythmn. Aragorn’s chest heaved as he tried to fill his lungs with air, the struggle obviously painful.
“Please, please, Elbereth, don’t let him die!” Whispered the prince in a heartfelt prayer. “ He is dear to me.....he is my friend.....my brother.” Legolas’ tears began to flow freely as he sat helplessly watching Aragorn’s desperate fight for his life. He had tried his best, keeping him cool when the fever took him, warming him when the chills attacked his body and helping him to breathe when his lungs refused to work, but it was not enough.
Legolas sat with his hand resting lightly on the young man’s chest, feeling the almost imperceptible movement as Aragorn’s breathing grew weaker and slower. His friend could not win this battle, it was too hard.
“ I will not let you go, Estel, not alone.” Said Legolas determinedly and closed his eyes, concentrating on finding and binding his friend’s spirit to Arda. He was not a healer, he had no healing skills that could deal with an illness of this severity. He was a warrior, an archer. But he was a friend, and that would have to be enough.
*****
Legolas was slumped by Aragorn and did not feel the careful hands that lifted him and placed him gently beside his friend on the large litter. He was not aware of being carried through Mirkwood, back towards his father’s palace, or of being carried through halls and corridors and placed on his bed.
The first thing he did notice was that he was lying on something soft and comfortable and could hear someone moving around. He opened his eyes blearily and was shocked to find himself staring into the eyes of Lord Elrond.
“At last, Legolas! I was beginning to wonder if you would ever waken!” The healer sat on the end of the young elf’s bed.
“ Lord Elrond?” Said the elf, with a bewildered frown. “ I.....I do not understand.”
“ Do not worry. We found you, the twins and I, half way through Mirkwood when we were on our way here two days ago.....”
“Two days!”
“Yes, you have had us quite worried for a while.” Lord Elrond paused, his face grim. “ You had tried to save Estel.....”
Legolas’ heart gave a sudden lurch and his mouth went dry.
“W...what do you mean?.....t...tried to save?” Whispered the elf, fearing the answer.
Elrond suddenly realised what he had said. “No, Legolas! Estel is alive.....do not fear! Oh, my young friend, did you think that I meant.....? No, you kept him alive until we arrived!” The older elf took Legolas into his arms and held him for a moment. The prince’s shoulders shook a little as he wept in relief.
“ Once I could tend him, he began to improve steadily. He is very weak, but he will get better. He has asked for you.”
Legolas looked at the elven Lord in puzzlement. “Why were you there my Lord?.....though I am heartily glad you were!” He added.
“When Elladan and Elrohir came to Imladris to tell me that you had found the children lost in the woods, and that they had left their home after their mother had died, I investigated their story a little myself. I found that their village had been plagued with a dreadful illness that killed most of the adults. Children, fortunately seemed to recover fairly quickly.....”
“.....like little Edwin, he was ill the night that we set out for Lake Town.....” Said Legolas thoughtfully.
“.....exactly, like Edwin. Estel told me how you had both fought to save his life. He was probably carrying the disease for some time before he was found and Estel caught it from him.”
Legolas bowed his head and rubbed his eyes. “I thought I had lost him.” He said softly.
“ No, you did not, Legolas and I have you to thank for saving my son’s life. He would have died if you had not hung on to him with all your strength. You gave most of your own away, that is why we were worried about you. You were exhausted and weak when we found you by Estel. In fact for a moment I thought we had lost you both.”
“I would like to see him, if I may.”
“Of course, I will take you to him.” Smiled Elrond, and helped Legolas out of bed.
The younger elf was surprised at how wobbly his legs felt, and how unsteady he was. He had indeed given most of his life force to Aragorn in his efforts to keep him alive and he leaned on Lord Elrond’s arm gratefully. He was pleased to see that his friend had been placed in one of the prince’s own guest rooms and was nearby. The older elf helped him into Aragorn’s chamber and into a chair by his bed.
Aragorn was resting peacefully, the feverish colour had gone from his face and he was breathing easily. The sound of his visitors broke through his light doze and he awoke instantly.
“Legolas!” He grinned, “ I was wondering when you’d wake!”
Legolas looked affronted. The last time he had seen Aragorn, his friend was the one who was ill.
“ I was tired!” He said indignantly.
“ From what I hear you were more than tired, my friend.....thank you.” The young man said softly.
Legolas looked slightly embarrassed. He had only done what he knew that Aragorn would have tried to do for him if their situations had been reversed. A thought struck him and he gave a chuckle.
“ What? What’s so funny Legolas?” Said Aragorn.
Legolas began to giggle helplessly, causing both Aragorn and his father to stare at the elf in bewilderment.
“It’s.....it’s just that.....somehow.....we always end up being carried.....into Imladris.....and this time it was.....my home!” He said through his laughter, and Aragorn and Elrond both saw the funny side of the situation too and burst out laughing.
“Yes, and now Thranduil has the pleasure of your convalescence and I can vouch for the fact that neither of you are good patients!” Said the elf Lord with a wry smile, and turned to leave the two friends in peace. Just as he reached the door however he paused and stood looking a little perplexed.
“Oh yes, something that I have wondered about Legolas.....when we found you both, Aragorn was.....sticky and smelt rather strongly of wine! Can you throw any light on this mystery?” Asked Elrond.
Legolas looked a little awkward. “When Estel was feverish, I needed something to try to cool him down. I didn’t want to waste the drinking water as I thought he would need it, so I used the wine we had been given by Kit’s grandfather to sponge him.”
“What? How much is left Legolas?” Said Aragorn in alarm.
Legolas looked uncomfortable and winced. “Actually.....not a lot.....well, that is to say.....er.....none.”
“None!” Cried Araagorn. “But there were two whole flagons!”
“You were very hot!”
Lord Elrond chuckled again. “It was good thinking, Legolas.....”
“Yes, but two whole flagons! I was looking forward to that!” Cried Aragorn in dissapointment.
“Well, I am very sorry.” Said Legolas grumpily, “ the next time I shall just leave you to suffer!”
Aragorn looked crestfallen. “Oh, I am sorry my friend, I did not mean to be ungrateful.....it’s just that.....two whole flagons?”
Legolas could not remain angry with his friend. He was glad to see him well again.
“Aye, two whole flagons of the very best vintage!.....” He laughed, and Elrond and Aragorn joined him.
“.....but it was worth every drop, my dear friend, every drop!” Smiled Legolas happily.
The End.