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Love's Redemption	By : mthorsta Category: -Multi-Age > Het - Male/Female Views: 7108 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Chapter 8 - The Sun also Rises
  Legolas was weary, indeed. He drifted off into sleep still sitting upright in the chair next to Jordan�s bed. Something stirred him; a noise perhaps? He could not tell how long he had slept. He rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands and stretched. Jordan had not moved and was still peacefully asleep; her breathing even and calm. Legolas finally heard what had disturbed his sleep; a light rapping at the door. Upon opening the door, he found it was Cailethas. Legolas stepped out into the corridor and shut the door behind him.

  �Mae Govannen, Legolas.� Cailethas greeted him.

  �Mae Govannen, Cailethas.�

  �Quiet a return you have made! The whole palace was in an uproar.�

  �Aye. I do not doubt it.�

  �What of the injured woman? How does she fare?�

  �She is resting comfortably for now, though the healer does not know if she will recover.�

  �It is fortunate that you discovered her. She may yet have a chance. Sometimes I do not understand the ways of men.�

  �Nor I, mellon-n�n.�

  �What do you know of her so far?�

  �Very little. Only that her name is Jordan and she is a healer. She speaks Westron, although with an accent I cannot place.�

  �Jordan? A strange name; I have not heard of a name such as that. She is not Haradrim is she?�

  �No. Her countenance is fair.�

  �Most intriguing. And your scouting mission? No threat in the South Wood, I take it?�

  �It is most odd, Cailethas. I scouted the woods for two days and found nothing of consequence. I made the decision to abort the mission and return to Emyn Arnen and it was then that I happened upon the Lady Jordan.�

  �Perhaps she was the disturbance. Fair in countenance she may be, but servants of the Dark Lord have many disguises. Sauron has been destroyed but there are still those yet who are willing to do his bidding.�

  Although he knew Cailethas had cause to be suspicious, his conclusion angered Legolas. �She is not one of Sauron�s minions! There is no malice in her heart. I can sense it.�

  �Forgive me, Legolas. I meant no offense. I simply meant that perhaps you should keep your guard up. Do not be so quick to trust that which we do not know.�

  �Your concern is duly noted.� Legolas said wearily. �Now if there is nothing else, I should like to get back to my watch. The lady could wake up at any time.�

  �I thought you would like to know the ground-breaking and celebration went well, although your presence was sorely missed, especially by Aragorn and Arwen. They were deeply disappointed, though they understood well the reasoning. They bid me tell you - you are welcome in Minas Tirith for a visit, should you find the time.�

  �Most gracious of them�perhaps when the lady recovers.� Legolas made sure to use �when� and not �if�.

  �Perhaps. Now then, the hour grows late. I will take my leave of you.�

  �Hannon le. Good night, Cailethas.� Legolas said and quietly slipped back into Jordan�s quarters.
  He leaned over and felt her forehead. It was still hot to the touch but she was not perspiring and did not seem to be in any distress. It was then he noticed a silver chain around her neck and a lump in her sleeping gown just above her breasts. His hand reached out tentatively to touch the lump, but he hesitated thinking it inappropriate. �I wonder why I failed to notice that before.� He pondered. �It must be some type of pendant.� He took a soft cloth that Ioreth had left on the side table and soaked it in cool water in a small bowl. Scooting the chair closer to her bed, he sat down and held it to her forehead as Ioreth instructed him to do. She stirred slightly from his touch and moaned.

  �All is well, Lady Jordan. You are safe now.� He assured her. Her eyes were still closed but she wriggled under his ministrations and slowly brought her hand to her forehead to feel what was on it. Her hand touched his still holding the damp cloth and she slowly ran her probing fingers lightly down the back of his hand, up his arm, and over the pushed up sleeve of his tunic; not realizing yet what was touching her. He held perfectly still, not wanting to startle her. He closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and shuddered. His skin tingled where she brushed over it; no one had ever touched him like that before. It only lasted a few seconds but it felt like an eternity. He shook himself from this reverie, ashamed. He should not be taking pleasure in her actions as they were not meant to be such. Her eyes fluttered open and saw Legolas� silver-blue eyes boring into hers. She jerked her hand away realizing it was Legolas� arm she was touching.

  �I�m sorry.� She whispered.

  He smiled warmly. �There is no need to apologize, my lady.� He took the cloth off her forehead, putting it back in the bowl on the side table.

Jordan closed her eyes, scrunched her face up, and held her breath; letting it out with a groan. She was becoming more aware of the pain of her injuries and she clawed at the blanket.

  �Lay still my lady. I will get you something for the pain.� He said, noticing her anguish.

He mixed the draught that Ioreth had left him. Lifting her head, he held the cup to her lips. She smelled the same bitter liquid he made her drink before and turned her head.

  �No.� She moaned.

  �I know the taste is not desirable but you must drink it, Lady Jordan. It will help your pain.� He reasoned with her.

  She choked down the entire cup, wanting to be free of the pain. He gave her a few sips of water to wash it down. He laid her head down on the pillow and sat back down in the chair.

  �Why are you helping me?�

  �You are in need of assistance and I am able to provide it.� He said simply.

  �I wish I would�ve found you first.� Her voice trailed off and she closed her eyes. The sleeping draught was doing its work. Legolas realized he had been on edge and let himself lean back in the chair and relax. He looked at his arm and with his fingers, gently traced over where she had touched him. His skin still tingled from the experience and his reaction left him confused. Sighing, he let his arm fall into his lap and forced himself to think about other things.
~~~~~
  Eowyn sat on a chaise, reading, in their spacious quarters. Candles on several large wrought iron candelabras lit the main room and the flames danced upon the rich colors of the tapestries and rugs that decorated it. The double doors to the large balcony were propped open; curtains billowing from the gentle night breeze. The main door opened and the change in air current caused the candles to flicker. Eowyn looked up from her book to see Faramir entering the room meekly.

  �I am allowed entrance, oh fair wife?� He called out in the most charming voice he could muster. She put the book down and smiled.

  �How can I deny a handsome face such as yours?� He came and sat beside her on the chaise.

  �So are you saying that if any other with a handsome face should enter, they would also not be denied?� He jested playfully. She slapped him on the arm and he rubbed it, feigning injury. �Are you still angry with me?�

  �No. You made the right decision, in the end. I am proud of you, my love.�

  �After seeing such a sight, how could I not? How is she?�

  �She was asleep when I left. Legolas is with her now. Oh, Faramir. It was awful; the poor woman! She was ill with fever and she had a large festering wound on her leg. Ioreth took a red-hot knife and�oh, I can still hear her scream echoing in my head. Ioreth did the best she could but she still may not survive.� Eowyn didn�t have to complete the sentence about the knife; Faramir understood what she was talking about. He winced.

  �Legolas seems quite taken with her. Maybe he has found love at last.�

  �Honestly, Faramir. I am sure his actions are simply out of chivalry and compassion. He does not know anything about her; no one does. Besides, she is mortal; he is elf-kind.�

  He took her hand and kissed it. �It matters not. I knew I loved you the very first time I laid my eyes upon you.� Still holding her hand, he pulled her close and kissed her tenderly. She melted into him; wrapping her arms around him and sliding her hands into his hair as he deepened the kiss. After a few moments, he pulled away eliciting a moan from Eowyn. �Perhaps it is the same for him. Come, my love. The hour is late. Let us retire.� He said, rising, and led her by the hand towards the bed.
~~~~~
  Legolas kept watch over Jordan�s fragile state through the night; patiently caring for her like a parent would care for a child. Although restless and anxious, he held steadfast to his duty; placing a cool cloth on her head every couple of hours and studying her breathing. He quietly sang songs in Elvish to sooth both her weary soul and his troubled mind. The first hints of morning light began to filter through the small window of the guest quarters, yet Jordan remained in the clutches of sleep. Legolas was becoming concerned. She should have wakened by now. She needed the medicine. He was uncertain whether it was better to wake her up, so he could give her another cup, or let her sleep. He paced the floor nervously hoping Ioreth would come soon to check on her. The healing wing was a good distance away and Legolas did not want to risk leaving Jordan alone to seek Ioreth�s advice. Eventually, he concluded it was more important that she get the medicine she needed and prepared the draught before attempting to rouse her.

  �Lady Jordan?� He said, putting a hand on her shoulder. �Lady Jordan?� He said again, shaking her shoulder gently. �Lady Jordan, you must wake up. You need to drink more of the medicine.� He could see she was still breathing but she was not responding to his voice. He caressed her cheek and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, then taking her hand in his own; he rubbed it, trying to elicit some sort of reaction. �Lady Jordan, please wake up.� Finally, she started to open her eyes and Legolas let out a sigh of relief. She licked her lips and tried to speak but her throat was too dry and her voice was no more than a cracked whisper.

  �Water,� was all she managed to get out.

  Legolas slipped his arm underneath her; sitting her up with little effort and gave her a few sips of water. Before laying her back down, he gave her the draught he prepared. Too weak to protest, she drank it all without complaint.

  �You see? That was not so bad.� He said, patting her arm. She grimaced to let him know �yes, it was�. He laughed softly.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Legolas looked up to see Ioreth coming in with a tray of bread and broth.

  �Good morning to you both.� She said, setting the tray on the side table. �How long has she been awake?�

  �Only a few moments. I decided I should wake her; she had slept for so long. I thought it best if she had more of the medicine.�

  �Good. You did just fine. How are you feeling this morning?� She asked Jordan. She shook her head �no� and closed her eyes.

  Ioreth felt her forehead with her hand. �She is still ill with fever. See if you can get her to drink some broth.� Ioreth said to Legolas and went about applying more of the herb paste to Jordan�s wounds and redressing them.

  �Lady Jordan? Ioreth brought you some broth. Would you like to try some?�

  �Does it taste better than that other stuff?� She mumbled.

  �I cannot say for certain, but it does smell better.� He said, earning a raised eyebrow from Ioreth. He propped her up into more of a sitting position with some pillows and gave her a tentative sip. �Is it agreeable?�

  She nodded yes. He gave her a few sips at a time, taking care not to let any broth dribble down the front of her sleeping gown. She put her hand on his arm to stop him from raising the mug to her lips again.

  �No more.� She slurred and closed her eyes.

  �I am finished here.� Ioreth announced packing up her satchel. �I will return this evening to check on her again.�

  �Ioreth, will she recover?�

  �She is stronger than I thought, but it is still too soon to tell.�

  As Ioreth was walking out the door, Eowyn was walking in.

  �Good morning, Ioreth.�

  �Good morning, my lady. Go on in, Legolas could probably use some company.�

  �Thank you.�
  Legolas sat in a chair near the bed. Eowyn walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder. �How is she Legolas?�

  �Ioreth said she is still ill with fever and that it is too soon to tell.�

  �You do not look well, yourself. Were you here all through the night?�

  �Aye.�

  �You should get out of this room for a bit and get some fresh air. I will sit with her.�

  �Are you certain? I would like to bathe and get a change of clothes.�

  �Go.� She waved him away and smiled. �We will be fine.�
~~~~~
  Upon returning to his guest quarters, Legolas requested that the maid draw him a hot bath and bring a meal to the room. While he waited, he selected a clean tunic and breeches from the wardrobe and laid them out on the bed.
  When the bath was ready and the maid had left, he undressed; putting his soiled clothing in the basket to be washed and eased himself into the steaming water. He sighed as he felt the tension leave his body and he leaned his head against the back of the small wooden tub and closed his eyes. The water was lightly fragranced with oils of myrrh and sandalwood; earthen smells that reminded him of his home in the trees in the new elven colony. It had been a month since he had been there; his time spent mostly on his garden project, and he did not expect he would be returning anytime soon. His guest quarters in the palace were very spacious and open; luxurious even, compared to his modest talan, but he preferred the canopy of cool, green leaves over his veranda and the nearness of the trees to the cold and lifeless stone of the palace.
  He had soaked for so long; the water had cooled, forcing him out of the tub. He dressed; then sat on the bed to comb out his hair and rebraid it. He decided to go check on the progress of the garden before returning to Jordan�s quarters. It felt good to be outdoors. As he walked, he tried to keep his mind blank to give himself a respite from dark thoughts. When he approached the site where the garden was being established, he saw his friend Cailethas. Cailethas took him around and showed him the work that had been already completed on the borders to make sure it was to his specifications. Legolas spent some time helping to clear the ground on the far west side of the garden and planted some flowering vines that would eventually wind around a trellis. Working his hands in the earth and tending the plants lifted his spirit and gave him a renewed sense of hope. He watched the sun setting, filling the sky with brilliant colors before washing up and returning to relieve Eowyn.
~~~~~
  When Legolas returned, Eowyn was reading poetry to Jordan. The sky was growing dark and the first stars of the evening were appearing through the tiny window.

  �Forgive me for being away for so long, Eowyn.�

  �Legolas, it is fine, I assure you. Do not worry yourself.�

  �Has she woken up at all?�

  �No.�

  �Then, I should wake her and give her more medicine.�

  �Do you need any assistance?�

  �Aye. Will you take the envelope lying on the side table, pour it into a cup, and fill it with water?�

  �Certainly.�

  Legolas sat down on the edge of the bed and patted Jordan�s arm. �Lady Jordan?� He patted her arm again �Lady Jordan?� Jordan did not move or make a sound. He took her hand and let out a small gasp. �Your hand is like ice!� He rubbed her hand in both of his, trying to warm it up. Then he did the same for the other hand, all the while calling her name. He felt her forehead; it was not cold like her hands. He touched her cheek. �Eowyn, she is not waking up!� He slid his arm underneath her upper back and sat her up a little, her body was limp. He laid her back down. Eowyn rushed over.

  �I can see her chest rising and falling; she is breathing.�

  �Then why will she not respond?� He asked, with a hint of panic in his voice.

  �I do not know. I will get Ioreth.� Eowyn said and ran out the door.
  There was only one more thing Legolas thought to try. He hated to do it; it was cruel, but it should elicit a reaction - pain stimulus. He pulled the blanket back to uncover the wound on her leg and pressed him thumb into it, hard. He expected her to scream, but she made neither sound nor movement; not even a flinch.
   Ioreth rushed into the room with Eowyn close behind. Legolas jumped up and made way for her.

  �Ioreth! She will not awaken! I have tried everything. Help her.� Legolas implored the healer.

  �When was the last time she came �round?� She asked sitting on the side of the bed. She felt Jordan�s forehead, then put her ear to her chest.

  �This morning when you last checked on her.� Legolas said.

  �Her heart has slowed.� Ioreth carefully opened one of Jordan�s eyes with her thumb and index finger. �Her body is shutting down. She is in the shadows, somewhere between living and death.�

  �Surely something can be done.� Eowyn said.

  �This is beyond my skills to heal. It is in the hands of the Valar now.�

  �Then what must we do?� Legolas asked.

  �Wait. Wait for her spirit to pass from this world to the shadows beyond.�

  �I will go get us some tea.� Eowyn said somberly.

  Legolas lit all of the candles about the room and then stood beside Jordan�s bed. He picked up her hand and kissed it. �Forgive me, my lady.� He rearranged the pillows and tucked the blanket in around her. Although he knew she was not aware of anything going on around her, he felt he should still make her passing as comfortable as possible. Eowyn returned carrying a tray of earthenware mugs brimming with fragrant tea and handed them out to Ioreth and Legolas.
  Ioreth stood by the fireplace, leaning against the hearth. Eowyn sat on the bench by the door and Legolas sat slumped in the chair by Jordan�s bed looking miserable. No one spoke a word as each of them stared into their tea, lost in their own thoughts. The candlelight flickered and danced eerily with the shadows on the wall, adding to the solemn atmosphere. Ioreth occasional checked Jordan�s breathing and listened to her heart. Legolas would raise his head and watch; Ioreth would nod, letting him know she is still alive. Then he would go back to staring into his tea. Eventually, both Ioreth and Eowyn went back to their quarters; it was late into the night and both women were beginning to fall asleep. Before Ioreth left, she put a hand on Legolas� shoulder.

  �You know, you do not have to stay. She is not aware of your presence or lack thereof.�

  �I told her I would help her and I will see her through �til the very end.� He said bitterly. She patted his shoulder to comfort him and left Legolas and Jordan alone.
~~~~~
  When Eowyn returned to her room, Faramir was already in bed, asleep. She blew out the remaining candles and slipped in beside him. The movement woke him up.

  �I am sorry.� She whispered.

  �It is all right. I have missed you.� He said and put his arms around her, pulling her close. �How is Jordan?�

  Eowyn was silent and Faramir felt wetness on his arm and realized she was crying.

  �What is it?� He asked tenderly.

  Eowyn sniffed. �She would not wake up. Ioreth said she will most likely pass away in her sleep. Legolas will not leave her side. I stayed as long as I could. Oh, Faramir, I feel terrible for him and for her; I feel like my heart is breaking! He looked devastated. What if you were right? What if he did love her and now she is dying?� She started to cry again, and he held her until she fell asleep from exhaustion.
~~~~~
  Jordan found herself sitting in the soft grass beside a babbling brook. The sun was high and a warm breeze caressed her face. She heard a voice say, �Would you like some more wine, my love?� She realized she held an ornate silver goblet in her hand. As she stared at it in confusion, someone walked over to her and stood near, casting a shadow upon her. She heard a familiar voice saying, �I say - would you like some wine, meleth-n�n?� She looked up and Legolas was standing over her with a bottle of wine in his hand.

  �What am I doing here?� She asked hesitantly.

  �What are you doing here?� He laughed. �What ever do you mean?� He asked, certain she was jesting.

  �No, Legolas. How did I get here?�

  �On horseback.� He stated, somewhat confused.

  She looked passed him and saw two horses standing beside a tree.

  �We are on an excursion.� He knelt down beside her, taking her hand. �My love, are you feeling all right?�

  ��My love?� Since when have you called me that?�

  �Since the day we were married!� He said in disbelief. �What has happened, my love? You are beginning to frighten me.�

  �Married? You must be joking. I�ve only just met you maybe three days ago.� The look in his eyes was one of pure terror.

  �We have been married for two years.� He said numbly.

  �No! It�s not possible. I was injured. You were taking care of me.�

  He grasped her by the shoulders. �Search your heart; surely you can feel the bond we share!� He said, panicking. She wrenched herself out of his grasp and stood up, dropping her wine goblet on the ground.

  �No.� She said weakly, stumbling a few steps back from him. A stabbing pain tore through her heart to see the devastated look upon his beautiful face as he knelt there in the grass. She covered her face with her hands, crying, �No, no, no.� When she took her hands away from her face, Legolas was gone; the goblet lying on the ground was gone; the horses were gone. She was alone. Her body was stiff and numb from shock and she could not will it to move. A deep voice called to her from far off, �Jordan!� Across the clearing, at the edge of the woods, she saw someone waving excitedly to her. �Jordan!� He yelled again. Squinting her eyes and shielding them from the sun with her hand, she recognized the person calling to her as Christian.

  �Hey!� He motioned for her to come to him. He had something in his hand - a book. He held it up in the air for her to see. �I found the book!� He called out. �I�ve come to take you home!�

  �Christian?� She asked incredulously.

  �Yes, it�s me! Come on! You need to come with me, now!� Her head was swimming. She took a few steps towards him. Her legs felt like lead. �Come on! Hurry! Don�t you want to go home?�

  �Home.� She repeated to herself. �Yes. I want to go home.� The thought was comforting and a feeling of peace washed over her. She took another few steps in Christian�s direction.

  �Stop child. That is not the way home.� An ethereal, undoubtedly female voice echoed through her mind. Jordan looked around wildly. There was no one there.

  �What?� She called out the air.

  �Who are you taking to?� Christian yelled to her. �Come on!� He said waving her over.

  �The path laid out before you will only lead to death.� The female voice said again.

  �But he has the book; the only way for me to get home!�

  �He is nothing more than an apparition. Look.�

  Just then a strong gust of wind whipped up, roaring through the trees like a tornado; kicking up a cloud of leaves, dust, and debris. It whirled around her; little pieces of rocks and twigs pelting her skin. She shielded her eyes with her hands. Through the storm, she could still see Christian standing at the edge of the woods, and before her eyes, he dissolved into black smoke and was carried off by the wind. The sun got brighter and brighter until all she could see was white. The wind stopped as suddenly as it had started and everything was silent.

  �You are home.� The voice echoed.
~~~~~
  Jordan opened her eyes, blinking them repeatedly against the first rays of morning sunlight streaming through the window. She was lying in a soft bed in a room with stone walls. Scanning around the room, she saw a familiar figure sitting in a chair, still as a statue, staring out the window. His crystal blue eyes were now a misty gray and his expression grief-stricken. With his gaze turned elsewhere, she took the opportunity to study the structure of his face; the strong angle of his jaw, high cheek bones, the shape of his lips, long dark eyelashes, the way his golden hair cascaded over his shoulders, shimmering in the sunlight, and how his ear curved to a delicate point just at the tip. It was a perfect balance of fragile beauty and strength. She wondered what had happened to him to cause such sorrow. He had been so kind to her, she wished she could comfort him in some way. She didn�t know anything about him but he was the closest thing she had to a friend, besides Maggie, in the whole of Middle Earth.

  �Legolas?� She called softly.

  Startled, he nearly jumped out the chair. He rushed to her side and took her hand. �You are alive? Oh, thank the Valar!�

  �Alive? Of course I�m alive.�

  �We could not wake you, my lady. Ioreth said there was naught we could do but wait for your passing.

  �Is that why you looked so sad? Because you thought I was going to die?�

  He bowed his head. �Aye.� He said quietly.

  Tears sprang to her eyes. No one in her world would have ever sacrificed themselves so much for a complete stranger.

  He looked up and saw the tears running down her cheeks. He wiped them away with his thumb.

  �Why do you cry, Lady Jordan?�

  �You have been so kind to me and shown so much compassion, the last thing I wanted to do is be the cause of your pain.�

  Legolas smiled. �Do not despair. It is sometimes difficult for mortals to understand the depth of elven emotions but it is simply the way of the Eldar.� He said. �We have a heightened sense of awareness both emotionally and physically, developed over many millennia.

  �The Eldar?�

  ��Eldar� is what the elves refer to themselves as.�

  �Oh. It seems I have a lot to learn about the elves.�

  �Aye.�

  There was a vague sense of familiarity about him like d�j� vu, but she could not place it. Fragments of dreams were mixed with reality and it muddled her memories. It must have been that medicine they were giving her to drink. The harder she thought about it, the more distant it seemed. Wind. No, a storm; caught in a storm.

  �Was there a wind storm last night?�

  �Nay. The air was still; not a leaf rustling. Why do you ask?�

  �It�s nothing. It must have been a dream.�

  A moment of silence passed between them. As she gazed at Legolas, she noticed his eyes were once again a piercing blue that sparkled with life and all traces of the sorrow she saw etched on his face were gone.

  �How do you feel? Are you in any pain?� Legolas asked.

  �Some. But it is manageable. I wish there was someway to repay you for all that you�ve done for me.�

  �There is. Accompany me on a walk when you have recovered? There is something I wish to show you.�

  �Okay. I can do that. What do you wish to show me?�

  �That I think, I will keep a secret and will be the motivation to your recovery.� He said with a mischievous smile. His playfulness brought a smile to Jordan�s face and he marveled at it.

  �I�m feeling pretty motivated right now. I don�t think I can stand another minute lying in this bed!�

  �Just as you have risen from the shadows�the sun also rises.� He said, pointing out the window. �Would you like to go out and greet it?�

  �I would love to.�
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Love's Redemption