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To Love and Be Loved	By : kathmco Category: -Multi-Age > Slash - Male/Male Views: 2074 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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
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To Love and Be Loved

Rated NC17

Summary: Legolas has his first close brush with death. AU, Slash

Author: Emmess

Chapter 3

Galion himself led one of the search parties into the forests of Mirkwood at nightfall. Bearing torches - not to light their way, since Wood Elves had the gift of dark-sight, but to fend off the lurking predatory spiders whose eyes were sensitive to light, the Elves fanned out in a line in the wood. Moving as one, calling Legolas' name as they searched, they scanned the trees and ground for any sign of their missing Prince.

Galion's keen ears picked up the voices of the trees before the rest of the party. Whispering softly to each other, the trees told the story of the heroic Elf who had fallen while single-handedly battling and defeating one of the ghastly arachnids who had taken up residence in the south part of the forest.

Breaking into a run, calling over his shoulder for the rest of the search party to follow, Galion headed south, dodging trees and brush, paying no heed to the brambles that caught his clothing or left scratches on his person.

Pausing a moment now and then to question the trees for an idea of where to find the brave spider-killer, Galion was the first to spot the hulking orange and black carcass and the crumbled form of an Elf near it.

Falling to his knees beside Legolas, whom he had served since the Prince's birth, as much a friend and mentor as a servant to the young Elf, tears flowed freely down Galion's cheeks at the sight of the convulsing, frail body.

Cradling him gently in his arms, shrugging off offers of help from the rest of the search party, Galion carried the piteously moaning body all the way back to the Great Cavern at a fast run. He prayed that Legolas would last until the healers could tend to him. He prayed even harder that the healers would be able to save him if he did last that long.

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A week had passed since that fateful day in the forest when Legolas had met with his misfortune and the healers held little hope for his recovery. Legolas lay feverish, drenched in sweat on the bed in the Healing Room, his brilliant blue eyes now clouded with agony, nearly rolled to the back of his head. The healers stood by uselessly, unable, because of the intense level of his torment to cast him into a deep healing sleep, while the pain of the venomous bite wracked his body, twisting his sleek limbs into grotesque positions. His bitten arm, blackened and oozing, gave rise to a foul odor as the infection from the spider's bite festered, despite the healers' best efforts. His moans grew weaker with each passing day as his body continued to suffer the effects.

Thranduil had barely left his son's side since the night Galion had carried him in through the Great Hall, shouting for the healers. He knew not how Legolas continued to hold on, so evident was level of pain he endured. Tears for his son wet the sheets as much as the sweat from his son's fever-wracked body, and, as Thranduil gently stroked the golden hair that lay tangled and wet upon the pillow, he prayed to the Valar to release his son from his pain.

"The healers hold no hope for him, Galion," Thranduil whispered, his eyes never leaving the pain-contorted features of his youngest son. "Why do the Valar allow him to continue to suffer like this if he is to be taken from me anyway in the end?"

"Give not up on hope, Thranduil," Galion said softly, laying his hand on the King's shoulder. He spoke now as a dear old friend of the family, and not as a servant. "He is stubborn - you have always said so yourself. That stubborn streak works in his interest now, forcing him to cling to life against the odds. He will win…he can do no less - he is his father's son, after all."

Patting the elfservant's hand that rested on his shoulder, Thranduil still could not check the tears that flowed from his eyes, or stem the pain that flowed through his heart.

More days passed, and still Legolas clung to life, to the continued surprise of the healers. They had already ordered prepared his funereal shroud and burial cairn, certain that the young elf would succumb at any moment. Thranduil, the needs of kingdom finally reaching the critical point where he was bound by duty to return to his throne, had left Galion to watch over Legolas. He knew that his loyal friend and servant would never leave his son alone for a moment, and would inform him of any change immediately.

The healers, confident in their prognosis, talked freely to each other about the Prince's imminent demise, even as they changed the bedclothes around the tortured body. It was their talk of Legolas as if he were already dead while in the Prince's presence that threw Galion into a righteous fury.

He flew about the room, grabbing the healers by the scruffs of their necks, bodily throwing them from their own Healing Room. In no uncertain terms he told them not to return, under penalty of having their Elven arses ripped apart and served to the King's dogs on a platter by His Majesty's butler. He slammed the door in their faces, unmindful of the stream of curses they launched at him as they pounded on the other side of the hardwood door.

Bolting the door, Galion poured fresh water from a bucket into a large bowl, gathered up clean rags and sat down beside Legolas, gently sponging off his fevered body. After a few moments, he began to speak, telling the young Prince anything and everything that came to mind.

He retold stories from Legolas' youth - stories about his beautiful mother, who had died so young and yet had loved the Prince so very much; stories of his father and grandfather and their valiant efforts in the Wars; stories of their Cousin Elves in Lothlorien and Imladris; stories of Men, Dwarves, and Hobbits, and other equally odd creatures of the land; stories of great loves and equally great heartaches.

New days melted into old days, and still Galion stayed at Legolas' side, spoon feeding him medicine and broth while cradling his head gently in his arms. When he finally ran out of stories, Galion sang to the Prince every song he had ever learned, over and over again, his sweet voice filling the Healing Room, until it rasped raw.

Finally, after many days of Galion's tender ministrations - be it the loving care or the medicine or both - Legolas' limbs relaxed, and for the first time since he had been bitten, he drew a deep breath not tortured by pain. His eyes fluttered, before clearing and focussing on the weary eyes of his caregiver. He opened his mouth to speak, but the weeks of screaming and moaning had robbed him of his voice.

A finger to his lips stilled him, then softly stroked his forehead as Galion whispered, "Welcome back, Pen-neth…welcome home." He smiled at the Prince for a moment longer, before rising to unbolt the door, bellowing down the hall for someone to fetch the King - his son was awake!

Thranduil rushed in mere moments later, falling to his knees beside his son's sickbed, his tears now of joy as he buried his face in Legolas' side. Weakly, Legolas lifted his good hand to place it gently on his father's head, his own eyes watering as his lips mouthed the words, "I am sorry, Ada."

Looking up at the pale face of his youngest son, Thranduil found a smile for him. "Do not waste your energy on remorse, Legolas. That you are with us again is my greatest joy, and your brave, if foolish actions were more than paid for by the pain you suffered." His voice cracked and his tears renewed themselves as he spoke of Legolas' ordeal. He picked up the Prince's hand from where it had fallen on the bed when Thranduil had raised his head, and softly kissed it before holding it to his cheek.

Rising, Thranduil turned to Galion, giving the butler a rare, spontaneous hug. "To you I owe everything, my friend. You have given me back my son when my own healers had despaired. Forever and a day will you have my gratitude. What reward can I possibly offer you that would equal so great a deed? A title, perhaps…land…gold…"

Galion smiled, shaking his head. I have served your family for most of my life, Your Majesty…I have no wish to change that now."

Thranduil again hugged Galion, who could feel the tremors of joy and relief still coursing through the proud King's strong body.

With a smile, and a promise to Legolas to visit again in the evening, Thranduil returned to his duties, leaving his son in the care of his faithful butler.

The healers peeked into the room upon hearing the news of Legolas' miraculous recovery, but one scowl from Galion was enough to send them scurrying away. He was not about to let those doomsayers anywhere near Legolas again.

Turning to his charge, he smiled and sat on the edge of the bed. "So…I hear that the forest is short one spider," he laughed, earning a small smile from the dry, cracked lips of the Prince.
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To Love and Be Loved