Hiro Hyn Hîdh Ab 'Wanath: Let Them Find Peace After Death

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Chapter 01: The Bitter Taste of Mortality

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Author's Note:

A mention of uncanonness (is that even a word?) here people.

I am deviating from the books in this way...

Aragorn and Arwen were married shortly after the War of the Ring. They were wed before the Hobbits or any of the others in the fellowship left Gondor.

I am deviating in the way that yes, they will still be married and the guests will be the same, but everyone had left for a short while. I kinda need the scourging of the Shire to take place between my last story and here.

Just thought I'd say that and also prove to you guys that I know what the books say but, for the purpose of this story, a slight deviation is needed.

Thanks!

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Two days... It had been two days since Aragorn and Legolas had arrived in Minas Tirith. Two days which had brought on some of the most horrific experiences of the Elven Prince's very long life.

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Aragorn leaned against the doorframe to one of the palace's grand guest rooms. He stood, his eyes averted from the room, knowing that his friend probably wished not to be seen at the moment. Within, Legolas leaned on a small dresser, atop which sat a wash basin. Of course it was empty... sort of. The poor Elf had gotten his first taste of mortality and it was a disgusting one at that.

"Are you sure he shall be alright?" asked a soft voice by the King's side.

Aragorn's eyes came to rest on his, very soon, wife to be. In fact, their wedding was to take place in only a month. Now however, with the sudden change in events, the King of Gondor had been forced to postpone the reception for another couple of months. However, that would give many of their guests, such as the Hobbits and Gandalf, time to return to Gondor.

With a sigh, the man nodded. "He will be fine with some rest and a few herb concoctions which I prepared for him this morning."

Arwen stood at the King' side, her hands resting on the man's forearm. "But it was so sudden... Can you do nothing for him?" she asked quietly.

"It was sudden, but something I am quite used to." Aragorn turned, taking Arwen a few paces down the hall, away from the prince's room. "You and I both know that Elves are immune to all the illnesses of mortal men. So, for Legolas' sake, I tell you something now that you must swear to keep hidden from all others. Will you do this?"

Arwen smiled slightly, "Of course, Estel. If for Legolas' sake, then so be it."

"Then what I tell you is this." the man replied, his eyes shining from his beloved's beautiful smile. "Legolas has been wounded in a way none can see. There is evil in this world once again, too soon I fear after the fall of Sauron. A creature used the magic of Saruman to invade Legolas' body and steal away from him that which is more precious to Elves than almost anything." Almost anything was true, for Arwen was willing to give up that precious gift for the sake of love. "Legolas has become mortal, and we both believe the only way to reverse this bane upon him is to destroy this evil creature. I believe that, when we entered the city, Legolas' now mortal body was attacked by all sorts of sicknesses within Minas Tirith's walls."

Arwen looked down at the stone floor, her features hidden behind her long dark hair. After a few moments, she looked back to her fiancee, a slight smile on her lips.

"Then, for Legolas' sake, I shall keep this secret, as well as help in any way that I can."

The King of Gondor smiled in return, "I think he will be fine. He needs but a few days to let this sickness work itself out of his system. However, I believe he will be wanting some company later. I will have duties in court this afternoon, could you look after him?"

"Certainly." Arwen replied, "Long has it been since I have had to care for the sick, though I remember it quite well.

Aragorn's features became shocked, "I remember you teasing me constantly while I was ill. Ada was stunned when he found out that you were looking after me so... how should it be put? Carefully?"

"Yes well, it was an exciting incident, to say the least. And for it to have occurred only weeks after I had returned home." Arwen laughed.

"Exciting for you maybe. Torturous for me." the King of Gondor replied with a laugh.

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Legolas' shoulder's shook as he slowly straightened himself up. A mirror over the dresser showed the Elf's normally fair face, pale as a ghosts'. His eyes were narrowed, for any light hurt them terribly, and his hair was in slight disarray. The prince pulled his golden tresses away from his face, careful to tuck the strands in the back of his tunic. Never had he experienced such a torment as this. His stomach could not agree with anything he did and the mere thought of food caused the prince to become ill once more. He felt weak and vulnerable, a combination he despised.

"Legolas?" Aragorn asked from the doorway.

The Elf raised a hand, bidding the human to stay where he was. After a few tense minutes, Legolas realized he was not going to become violently ill again and he sighed. Taking a small towel from the dresser and, dipping the end into a second wash basin on the dresser, Legolas wiped the cold cloth over his face.

"I suppose this is a bad time to ask how you were feeling?" Aragorn replied, walking into the room.

Legolas turned to him, a blank expression on his face, "That is a gross understatement." he whispered, sitting down on the edge of his bed, head in his hands.

Aragorn walked to his side, carefully pulling the Elf's long hair out of the collar of his tunic. "You need to be in the bed, Legolas, not just on it."

"And tell me," the prince started, looking at his friend, "Does this happen to humans often?"

"Sometimes." Aragorn replied, taking both a nightshirt and pants from one of the dresser's drawers. He handed them to Legolas, "Though to me, only every so often. Being around Elves who, under normal circumstances do not get sick, I rarely came in contact with such illnesses. When I began to travel in the midst of men however, it happened every so often."

Legolas' lips curved into a slight smile as he shrugged out of his tunic and undershirt, "Perhaps then I should have stayed in Rivendell."

As the prince dressed, Aragorn busied himself making a fire in the room's fireplace. It would help keep Legolas comfortable, even though the man knew that fever was soon to rear it's ugly head. After a few minutes, Legolas was laying in the bed, blankets pulled up to his shoulders. By the time Aragorn was finished with the fire however, the Elven Prince was sound asleep.

Leaving the room, the King of Gondor noticed that Legolas' eyes were closed, a distress sign of the Elf's body. He knew that the archer would have a hard time overcoming the illness quickly and, with this thought, the man knew that his friend needed to remain in bed and get plenty of rest and water. So, Aragorn summoned one of the palace servants to keep watch over the Elf while the king was occupied elsewhere.

The only thing Aragorn worried about now, was if Legolas' sleep would peaceful and undisturbed by dark dreams.

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Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to J.R.R. Tolkien. The only characters I have owned in this have been Legede and Legolia which you are free to use if you ask me. I do not own Legolas, though it would be any fangirl's dream to be able to, and I do not own Middle-earth. Some of the ideas expressed are my own takes on original ideas of Tolkien himself. One example would be the immortality workings of the Elves. So, don't take everything I say as canon to "The Lord of The Rings" because it may not be. I try to stay as close on target to canon as possible, though at times there may be slight deviations.

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Author's Note... Part 2!:

For those of you who know me... you know I'm a schemer. Well, I have the mother of all schemes going now.

I tried my hardest to win tickets to the World Premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" and you know what... I never got to go.

So, here's my new game plan.

I have never wanted anything, and I mean ANYTHING as bad as this in my life. I'd gladly pay all the cash in my savings, which is a good portion, just to do this. I'm trying to get the point across that I am desperate for this once in a lifetime chance.

I want to go to the World Premiere of "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King" more than anything!

So, I am asking you, faithful readers, for some help and a little info. If you guys could tell me in your reviews of any contests which I could enter to try and win tickets to the premiere (preferably with airline tickets cause I'm not a millionaire... just a humble college student and all).

My one wish for... oh the past two years, has been mainly to "Meet Orlando Bloom". Every possible wishing scheme you can think of... I've done. My wish hasn't changed either. I don't only want to go to the premiere to see my "hero" which I have dubbed Orli as, but to see some of the greatest actors and actresses of this generation!

So, I'm asking and begging you guys to give me any info you have into contests I can enter.

Thanks guys and, until next time...

Laters!