Apologies that this took as long as it did… If I am honest I was hit with a severe case of writers' block however being in self-quarantine has given me a chance to update my stories. I hope you enjoy the latest instalment.

§

Houses of the Healing

Aragorn had come back a few hours later to Legolas led still in this cot, his skin as pale as the wide sheets he lay upon. At first glance, he looked like he had left this world for the white shores, but on closer inspection, the bloodstained bandages that were wrapped around his bare chest rose and fell with each raspy breath. Aragorn walked slowly to his companion's side, sitting down on the step that sat at the base of the fountain that Legolas' cot was sat beside. He rubbed his tired eyes with his palms and then rested his head in his hands. He fought the urge to break down as everything began to hit him all at once, his heart hurt as his emotions bubbled up within him. He lifted his head and allowed his eyes to rest on Legolas' prone form, he watched as the elf's eyes danced around beneath his pales lids. He wondered if he should say something. Would he even be able to hear him? Éomer leant against one of the many stone pillars that circled the makeshift ward and stood quietly watching them both, his brow knitted together. After a short, while he chose to approach them, his hands clasped together and his head hanging low as he stepped gingerly towards them.

'How is he?' he asked as he stood awkwardly at the Ranger's side.

'I do not know.' he said plainly, his despair evident in his tone.

'Oh.' Replied the man as he looked at the elf, remembering the first time he had met him and the dislike he had felt towards him but as time had gone on he had come to respect the prince 'I wanted to thank you… for helping my sister.'

The Ranger looked up at him, his eyes pricked with fresh tears. He smiled at Éomer and smiled nodded his head before returning his gaze to the unconscious elf prince that was laid down in front of him. The Rider from Rohan stood there for a little while longer placing a friendly hand on Aragorn's shoulder before turning away to leave. Once again they were alone. The air was filled with the voices of healers muttering to each other and the coughs and splutters of the wounded. Legolas grunted as his senses assaulted him all at once, the pain, the smell of death, it all hit him at once like the skulls that had almost killed him.

'Legolas?' Said the Ranger as he leant forward, placing a soothing hand on the Prince's chest.

The elf balled his fist as he fought to open his eyes, he could hear Aragorn's voice through the sound of rushing blood in his ears. He calmed at the Ranger's touch, and he managed to claw through the fog and open his eyes, sapphire orbs locked with grey ones.

'Welcome back.' said Aragorn, a small smile crossing his lips.

Legolas scrunched his face as he struggled to keep his eyes focused on his friend, blinking as he picked on a plant that sat a few meters from his bed to focus on. The delicacy of its leaves and the vibrancy of the petals of its flowers, it reminded him of a flower that bloomed during the height of summer in the Woodland Realm. Finally, he managed to return the Ranger's gaze and he noticed the mixture of emotions that painted the man's expression.

'We won the battle?' he asked quietly, his voice barely louder than a whisper.

'Yes, we won Mellon-nin.' Said the Ranger as he sat back against the step he was sat on.

'What happened?' asked the elf, confusion filled the blue pools that were his eyes.

'You took down an Oliphaunt but you ended up crushed beneath one of its mighty legs.'

Legolas said nothing more, his eyes searching the depths of his consciousness for any memory that would help him remember what happened but he was coming up blank. The Ranger could see his frustration bubbling to the surface to took it upon himself to distract Legolas from his current frustrations.

'I believe that you beat the dwarf in the final count.'

'You don't have to do that Aragorn.'

'Do what?' said Aragorn with a feigned sense of surprise.

'Distract me from my condition.' stated the elf as he gave the Ranger a weak smile.

Aragorn opened his mouth to respond but the words escaped him. So he sat there mouth agape as he fought to find a response to the elf's statement. Legolas chuckled lightly, flinching at the pain the small action brought him. Relief washed over the man as a healer came up to them and broke their awkward silence.

'My lord.' he said as he nodded his head in acknowledgement 'I have come to inspect the Prince's wounds.'

Aragorn returned the healers nod and watched as the man checked over the elf's wounds, wincing as the extent of his injuries became apparent. His chest was black with bruises, and he had four deep gouges that still bled freely. The Ranger stood and walked around as the healer finished his work, struggling to see Legolas in the fragile state he was. It was not the first time he had seen the elf so vulnerable but it did not get any easier. After what felt like hours the healer stood and turned to leave but Aragorn grabbed him by the arm.

'May I speak with you a moment?" he asked as he looked from Legolas to the man.

'Yes my lord.'

They stepped away from Legolas' bed, walking across the courtyard and took to standing next to one of the pillars.

'How bad are his injuries?' he asked plainly as he looked at Legolas through the corner of his eye.

'I will no lie to you, they are grave indeed. It is hard to determine what sort of damage there is to him inside.' he paused, planning his next words carefully 'I will be honest, these sorts of wounds would have killed any mortal. He is strong, but he could yet succumb to these wounds. Only time will tell I am afraid.'

'Have him moved to some quarters, along with Eowyn of Rohan. I want them both to be comfortable as their bodies repair.' stated the Ranger finally as he patted the healer on the arm in thanks and returned to Legolas, smiling at him as their eyes met.

'I am having you moved to some quarters so that you can mend Mellon-nin.' said the Ranger as he perched on the edge of Legolas' cot.

Legolas nodded, unable to bring himself to tell his friend that he has heard everything that they had said. He knew that his situation was dire but hearing that he may die was not an easy thing to hear, so instead of showing his true feelings to his current situation.

The days passed and night came, the skies once again filled with the stars that had been hidden before by the looming clouds of war. The grass plane before the white city had little or no evidence of the battle that had taken place, the bodies of man, horse and beast long gone from sight and mind. The city had started to return to a sense of normality, the damage battle had brought being repaired great speed. Aragorn had jumped straight into the role of ruler but he knew that they had one more battle to fight. They had met after the battle of Pellinore to discuss what they all knew needed to happen. It had felt strange meeting without Legolas there for council, but he had remained bed-bound, his wounds keeping him weak. He has been slipping in and out of consciousness which had saddened the halflings when they had gone to visit. The Ranger spent his evenings in the elf's quarters, hoping that his watching over him would prevent him from making the journey to the white shores.

§

Well, there it is, another instalment. Apologies that this took so long, Not as long as I would like but I will try and wrap this up in the whilst I'm stuck in Quarantine aha. Let me know what you thought!