From Fog to Starlight

Part 9/?

Throwing open the portal to the room, he entered with his sword raised. A bloodied, ivory handled knife clashed against his blade. Legolas's wide eyes met his own in surprise. Before he could speak, Legolas quickly lowered the knife, swung his arm down and spun. Elrond heard the crack as his patient's elbow hit something – then a man slid to the floor behind the elf. A clatter of metal sounded as the assailant dropped his weapon.

Legolas's defensive spin continued until Elrond felt a bright stab of pain in his own thigh. The intensity of it took his breath as he reached out to grasp the elf around the waist. His injured leg was collapsing under him and a bright stain of blood seeped from under the bandages and shredded nightshirt. Cradling the wounded elf against him, he again raised his sword in defense of them both.

The Man on the floor was scrabbling for his dagger as a voice called out. "Touch that knife and I'll slay you where you lay." Glorfindel's words were not heeded and the Man's knife passed his own in the air. The seneschal's knife met its mark truly as the Man slumped to the floor.

Swinging his sword horizontally, Elrond deflected the flying dagger harmlessly towards the bed. Lowering his sword, he moved with Legolas toward a nearby chair, allowing Glorfindel to enter the room. His advisor stood clad only in his breaches, an intricately engraved rapier in is left hand. Stepping over the body, the Glorfindel surveyed the room quickly and moved to the window. He bent down to attend something Elrond couldn't see, allowing the Lord to give full attention to his patient.

Legolas was glassy eyed, after calling his name several times the healer abandoned trying to obtain a response. Several injuries were bleeding, but none seemed to be life threatening in their progress. Concern about poison was set aside for the moment as he reached toward Legolas and their bond. A feeling of great exhaustion, coupled with confusion was all that he could immediately sense. The blood loss would not account for this much weakness in the First Borne. Strong sedatives were at work here – and they would make treating the elf's injuries that much more difficult. Reaching up to feel for a pulse, he was forced to drop his hand to keep the elf steady.

"It appears there were only three attackers – I see no sign of any other intruders." Glorfindel held himself rigidly and Elrond could see the anger in his eyes.

He glanced back to the corpse on the floor. "That Man is one of the hunters that came in with the Dúnedain."

His advisor nodded. "The second hunter lies dead on floor opposite the bed." His angry eyes softened in sympathy. "The third body by the door is one of the human healer's that has been apprenticing downstairs."

Taken aback, Elrond's thoughts strayed towards the remaining Men in the infirmary – and the safety of the elf in his arms. Until he knew how deep the threats to his lands ran, he would take no chances. Only the most trusted of counselors would be given tasks this night. Turning to give orders, Elrond sensed a presence approaching and raised his sword. He noted Glorfindel's blade was in fighting position as they both looked toward the door.

Erestor entered a lamp in one hand, long knife in the other. He lowered his knife as he canted his head toward Elrond. "I heard you call for Glorfindel as you left your rooms. Are you all right?"

Offering a slight smile at his concern, Elrond nodded. Erestor was known more for his work as lore-master and advisor these days and many forgot that he had served both Elrond and Gil-Galad in many battles. His authoritative grasp of the knife reminded Elrond that his house was well protected this night – even by those thought of as "bookish" by most of the valley's population. Pulling his scattered thoughts together, Elrond began giving his directions.

"Go and rouse Tararam. I want him to personally examine each of the remaining wounded downstairs. I'll trust no one but a healing elf until we get to the root of this night's deeds."

The winds began to gust, blowing the curtains into the room. Several tree branches flicked against the panes of glass as the windows rattled. Elrond struggled to calm himself; seldom did he lose control and allow his emotions to affect the valley through Vilya. Using the same iron will that had seen him through numerous campaigns and grievous losses, he calmed himself. The winds immediately weakened, dropping the curtains back to their rightful positions.

He found both advisors looking at him with concern, as they understood the cause of the disturbance. Realizing their worries were for him rather than the effects of Vilya, he relaxed his stance and gently smiled in gratitude for their silent support.

"I'll see to the healer and then take care of this room," Erestor surveyed the battle damage. "Do you wish me to send up elves from the patrols?"

Before Elrond could answer, Glorfindel cut him off. "No. Send a runner from the Houses of Healing out to the armory and put my patrols on alert. I'll stay with Elrond and Legolas until we are sure the danger has passed."

About to override the elf, he noted a shared look between his advisors and was puzzling to define it as Erestor took his leave. Looking towards Glorfindel, he was stopped once again.

"Where do you want to move the Prince?"

Looking about the room, Elrond realized that treating the elf here might be an option, but it was not one he'd choose. As long as the injuries were not life threatening, they all could do with a more hospitable room – not to mention a more remote one. "I'll treat him in my chamber off my own. I have healing supplies there and it is a more defensible position, if it comes to that."

Reaching to take Legolas into his arms, Elrond heard Glorfindel's quiet murmur. "It will not come to that, if I have any say in the matter."

Tucking Legolas's head under his chin, Elrond deemed not to answer as he strode from the room.

Shakily, Legolas had allowed himself to be lowered to a seat. His head spun and wounds ached in agony. He tried to slow his breathing and review his injuries. He could feel the blood running down his side – the cuts from the men's swords were not deep, but they burned from blades covered in poison. His senses felt weighted and he tried to clear his mind. A slow feeling of lassitude clung to his thoughts and he struggled not to succumb to the darkness that tugged at him.

He found his face raised to Elrond's, the healer's hand cupping his cheek. Struggling, he realized the Lord was talking, but as the adrenaline wore off, he had trouble understanding the words. He reached out with his mind trying to connect along the not-yet-understood tether; he could feel the briefest of flashes but the strength of the connection was waning and he couldn't form the words to ask why.

There were more words he did not understand and then Elrond was peering deeply into his eyes. He felt a warm hand upon his throat as he started to slide sideways. The touch quickly dropped from throat to shoulder to steady him as the room spun once again.

Darkness encroached and for a time he felt he was moving. Disoriented, he tried to look towards his surroundings, yet could not lift his head. And odd sense of security enveloped him as he imagined he heard the reassuring thump of a heartbeat under his ear. Eyes closed he allowed himself to drift.

Bitter herbs burned across his tongue. They brought a cough from him – but at the same time he began to feel his mind clear. He blinked, looking around and felt as if he had just reached the top of a deep pool, after a great struggle to the surface.

Taking a deep breath he tried to understand what was being said to him.

" … more?"

A voice from behind replied but the words would not make sense to his ears. He felt his chin moved and his eyes were directed to the face in front of him. He took in the countenance and noted the concern that shone from it.

"Elrond?" His own voice startled him. Gravelly, it carried none of the power and assurance that he was used to. Another goblet was pressed to his lips and he drank. The cordial was sweetened and he felt warmth poor through his body and his strength surge.

Taking a deeper breath, he winced at the sharp pain in his side. Ignoring it, he needed to warn the valley's leader. "The men who are in the Houses of Healing – they bring harm to your valley. They – "

Elrond's voice calmed him. "All is safe, Legolas. The threat is being handled. Our primary concern now is you. I must see to your injuries and after that, you may tell me what happened. Will you allow us to treat you?"

As his mind cleared, Legolas noted that he was not in the same healing room as before. Elrond was sitting beside him on a bed – a real bed, not a raised healing pallet, he noted. The valley's keeper was sitting before him clad in a … he stopped. Perhaps his eyes were not totally healed? Blinking several times to clear his vision, the site remained the same. Elrond was sitting next to him in a nightshirt. Mind still clouded, Legolas thought that he shouldn't be concentrating on the muscled contours of the lord's chest under the sheer material. He also decided he should not be following the curve Elrond's hip to where it tapered to a thigh well defined from horseback riding. However, the part of his mind that rebuked his thoughts did not seem to be able to move his eyes from their current exploration. He was about to ask how this came to be when he realized Elrond was speaking to him again.

Forcing his attention back to the matter at hand, he raised his gaze back to the Lord of Imladris. He decided that it may have taken a few moments and a less than direct route to finally meet Elrond's eyes, but at least he was successful in this attempt.

Elrond seemed to be waiting for something. Legolas stared back.

A movement caught his eye and he pushed Elrond back onto the bed, raising the knife that was still clutched in his right hand. The energy surge allowed him to steady his arm as he positioned himself to defend the Lord. Sighting down the blade, he waited for his attacker to make a move. The threat to their safety allowed his mind to clear a bit more as he struggled to defend them both.

The expected attack never came, however. He looked up to find the "attacker" standing in front of him – shirtless, barefooted and carrying a wooden chest and towels. Glorfindel had a strange look on his face, Legolas could see he was trying to contain his amusement, but there was also a note of respect coupled with something else the elf couldn't define.

Frozen, Legolas looked from Glorfindel back to Elrond. He was still lying over the healer, his left forearm pressing him back into the bed. Elrond quirked an eyebrow at him, but did not move. Looking down at the Lord he inquired, "What did you ask me a bit earlier?"

Neither the non sequitor, nor their position, seemed to rattle Elrond as he casually replied, "I asked if you'd give me the knife so that we might treat your injuries."

Looking back to the blade, Legolas stared at it as if Mithrandir had just made it appear out of thin air. His swirling thoughts were interrupted by the soothing voice of the healer. "You refused to let it go once the battle was finished. I did not want to increase your injuries by trying to forcibly disarm you."

Lowering the weapon, he dropped his arm to the bed. The exhaustion allowed his speaking to become more formal, as years of training at court took over. "My apologies, my Lord, I believe I'm not quite myself yet." The lethargy was growing again and he was having trouble keeping his eyes open.

"Legolas?"

He started at the voice. "Yes, my Lord?"

"If you would allow me, I'd like to treat your wounds now."

Gathering strength he nodded in acquiescence.

A slight rumble and shaking stirred his body, but resting for a moment felt wonderful and he was too tired to question the feeling. He was warm, safe and the aching injuries would soon be soothed.

"Legolas? It would be much easier for me to treat you if you would allow me to rise."

Legolas paused as the words came together in his mind. Popping his eyes open, he realized he was still lying across the great warrior, his head pressed against Elrond's chest. His body instantly recognized that the barrier between them was thin at best and he rocked back, almost falling off the bed. Elrond's reflexes allowed him grasp his forearm and assist Legolas in settling back against the pillows. Feeling the tips of his ears grow warm and pink, Legolas sunk into the bedding in mortification.

Gentle hands shook his shoulders. "Legolas, you must stay with us."

He opened his eyes to find Glorfindel standing beside the bed -- mixing herbs with a mortal and pestle. Elrond still sat next to him, his face kind and eyes sparkling. Pushing himself up, Legolas allowed them to remove his nightshirt and examine the new cuts. Pushing his clout out of the way, Elrond attended to his seeping thigh as Glorfindel washed and treated each of the new injuries.

After watching for a moment, he interrupted their actions. "I believe their blades were coated with poison. The cuts burned, although not as I'd experienced before." He noted that neither stopped their ministrations.

Glorfindel gifted him with a smile, "Yes, the blades were tainted. This paste that I am applying should counteract the evil very quickly. My Lord was most prepared this time."

At that Legolas noted a slight rise of Elrond's head, but the healer did not take his eyes from the gash on Legolas's leg. "Would that we would have learned this lesson sooner, but at least we benefit now." Finishing off the bandage, Elrond finally looked up at the two elves.

"Perhaps you can tell me what happened this eve?"

Although tired, Legolas felt his thought continue to become more lucid as the new potions raced through his body. He gathered his words and related as much of the tale as he could remember. "One of the human healers, I think his name was Baren, brought me dinner. He said that you had a new poultice for my leg and applied it to the wound. He also gave me a strange tasting tea and said that I should drink it when I was finished with my evening meal."

Here, he paused to look about the room, idly noting the rich appointments in both the carved woodworking as well as the furniture. His eyes drifted back to Glorfindel and then Elrond. "I found myself exceeding tired and then fell into a deep sleep. I know not how long I slept – but I was awakened by a noise on the balcony."

Glorfindel interrupted with a low comment, "We are lucky Men are so noisy, their lack of stealth may have saved your life this night."

Legolas felt his face warming and wondered how to continue. He was surprised to find Elrond's hand take his. "I know you were drugged, Legolas. There is no shame in being taken unaware."

Gripping the hand a little more firmly, Legolas looked up with an embarrassed grin. "It wasn't the Men who woke me. I heard the pocketsquirrel chittering outside the balcony. She was making quite a bit of noise – and I as struggled to consciousness, I realized the trees were also rattling in an unfriendly way. I heard one of the men throw something at the animal trying to scare her off and realized danger was about. I was lying on my side and able to grab my knives before the first blow was struck."

"I sought to fend off the first of the Men, he intended for his sword to separate my head from my body – but I blocked the blow. We struggled briefly, then I noticed the healer approaching with a large blade. I had no choice but to kill both. However, with my slowed reflexes, the third Man was able to get behind me and I had just started to engage him when the door flew open." Legolas rubbed his thumb over the clasped hands. "I am sorry I raised my knives against you, after being attacked from behind once this night, I was working in instinct, not thought." He dropped his eyes for a moment, "I would not raise my weapons against you, you must know that!"

He felt Elrond's free hand cup his face and raise it. "There is no apology necessary, mellon-nin. I'm grateful to your training that you were able to react as you did. Drugged as you were, this fight could have ended very differently. And that would have been a great tragedy to many of us."

Legolas watched as the pain lanced through Elrond's eyes and he searched for words to lighten the situation.

Glorfindel cleared his throat slightly and Elrond turned to him. "I'm going to return to my chambers for a change of clothing – something more suitable for guard duty. I shall return in a few moments." He exited before either of them could reply.

Legolas could still feel Elrond's hand as it cupped his cheek – the closeness sent a wave of warmth through him stronger than the cordial he had just taken. Although elves as a rule were not shy about their bodies, the off balance feelings heightened his awareness of both his own lack of clothing, as well as Elrond's. Opening him mouth to comment, he was consumed in more heat as the healer leaned in and gently captured his lips.

A taste he was quickly coming to associate with Elrond filled his senses – like a complex, aged red wine it hinted at musk, cinnamon and vanilla. There was something else there, but he was being pulled into the kiss and his mind was overtaken at its gentleness.

He watched as Elrond drew back. "There are no injuries that I've missed?" Legolas could feel his concern radiating down their connection and shook is head.

"Nay, I will heal. My mind strengthens and I feel much more clear in thought." He watched as a darkness grew in Elrond's eyes. "What is it that troubles you so?"

Shaking his head, Elrond began to draw back. Elven reflexes allowed Legolas to capture his hand before he moved off the bed. For a tense moment they studied each other.

Finally, Elrond relaxed his stiffened posture and turned his eyes to their clasped hands. "It matters not. You are here and healing. Old concerns came to my mind, but I shall not be swayed."

Legolas was about to press for details when a sharp knock sounded at the door. Elrond bade Glorfindel to enter and the discussion was set aside – for now.

TBC....

Pen-neth = Little one

Pocketsquirrel = opossum

AN's:

Once again reviews are welcomed and cherished. Critiques and criticism are always welcomed as well.

Thank you again to all of my reviewers, especially those that have been staying with me: StarlitHope and Farflung. My apologies to Neo for the cliffhanger, I was trying to get the next part out quickly and left this hanging a bit longer than expected.

Welcome to the new readers and reviewers, including Amy, angelbird12241, LadyJanelly, Isildwen and lomeloke. Thank you both for taking the time to read and review, it means more than I can say.