Avadis - A legolas story (slow moving!)

Chapter 43 - The Aftermath

"Please! Someone help!"

"I've lost him! I've lost him!"

"Please help me!"

The pair descended into the chaotic city streets and were surrounded by the wailing of the injured. Bodies were scattered across the pathways and doorways, some covered in debris and others covered in blood. "Here" Gandalf passed Avadis a vile filled with clear water, "drink some of this."

She brought it to her lips and took a sip, immediately recognising the taste as it's warmth flowed through her body. Despite the death and pain around them, she smiled with immense joy at the taste of her home. "Ent draught?" She raised her eyebrows at him, "you know the Ents do not permit this outside the forest. It is their sacred water." 

"Oh?" He looked over at her slightly guilty, "well...lesson learnt." He brushed off her accusation quickly and brought out a second vile which was half filled, causing Avadis to cross her arms in amazement. "It has strong healing properties, especially for the mortal body. I have found it only takes a few drops for men to feel an effect, a little more for an elf. It will help ease their pain until the healers can arrive."  He lowered his voice to a whisper, leaning closer to her, "between you and me, I've been using this since I saw how Treebeard used it to heal your wings all that time ago."

Avadis only sighed and shook her head slightly at him before grabbing the bottle from his hand and running over to a nearby man. He was half covered by a wooden beam over his waist and a pool of blood beneath him. She did not need to even lift the debris from ontop of him to know how much pain he must be in. "Please help me" his voice was raspy and his hand clawed his way over to hers as she lowered herself to the ground beside him. "My wife... I need my wife."

"Hush now, you have fought well" she comforted him, squeezing his hand before undoing the top of her flask. "This drink will help ease your pain until more help can arrive." 

"Tell her... tell her she is beautiful" he whispered before wimpering in pain, his eyes looking past her as if she were barely there. Avadis carefully lifted the top to his mouth and let a few drops flow over his lips. The effects were almost immediate, a lively colour returning to his face as his breathing became stable and calm again. 

"There now, be calm." She carefully brushed the mud away from his face as his eyes focussed on her for the first time. He looked at her, his eyes running behind her back to her wings and then back to her face. "I saw you... I saw you in the skies!" he pulled away from her in shock, eyes widening in fright. "You have come to our ruin! Get away from me!" His hand reached desperately towards a sword just out of his reach. Avadis was slightly shaken by his sudden outcry, but knew that it was the ent draught restoring his mind back to full strength despite his injuries. He was simply in shock.

Being particularly gentle with her tone, she looked down at him and replied. "No! Not your ruin but your victory. It is over. You have won." She sat back on her feet and watched as the man comprehended her words. After a long moment of silence, he seemed to conclude that if she were there to kill him, she would have done it by then, and so he went back to staring blankly at the skies above them. 

"I will see my wife again" he sighed.

"Yes, I believe you shall" she replied with a soft smile before standing and walking away, leaving him gazing at the clouds passing overhead. 

...

Soon Avadis found herself standing at the gates to the city after she had made her way slowly through the streets aiding those who allowed her to. At some point she and Gandalf had separated, each taking a different side of the city. Many here were still fearful of her, but in such a chaotic time these differences were easily put aside once they realised she did not wish to harm them. Citizens had begun to load their carts with the bodies of the wounded and dead, slowly trailing them back into the city in a long and silent line. Mothers, wives and children ran between the carts, desperately searching for the bodies of those they loved.

A loud wailing broke through the air and from behind the line of wagons Eomer appeared, holding a body in his arms. Avadis gasped as she recognised the long, blonde hair that flowed loosely from underneath the helmet. "Surely not" she whispered, running up to him as her eyes began to fill with tears. 

"She is gone! I have lost her!" He cried, staring at her through waves of agonising grief. Avadis studied her face and took hold of her hand which hand fallen limp from her side. It was cold. Her instincts immediately took over, "place her down! Quickly!" She ordered him, slightly more sternly than she intended. He did as she said, holding Eowyn's head carefully in his lap as Avadis gently removed her outer armour and brushed the hair from her face. 

"Please work" she whispered, lifting her vile to her lips and gently tipping a few droplets into her mouth. For what felt like an enternity they held their breaths in silence. Eowyn did not spring to life as the others before her had, there was no sharp intake of breath or panicked words from her lips, but to Avadis' joy a small hint of life returned to her face, and her hand faded from blue back to it's usual colour. It was not enough to save her, but it may have been enough to pull her away from death's grasp just now.

But the draught would not last forever. "Take her to the healers! Go!" She instucted Eomer, springing back to her feet and watching as he ran off with Eowyn in his arms once more, running up the cobbled streets towards the healing buildings. She did not allow herself to cry just yet, instead she tightened her hands into fists and forced herself to continue forwards and out into the remains of the battlefield. Eowyn's fate was no longer in her hands, and as much as Avadis was anxious for her friend, she had the strength and energy yet to help others who needed help.

...

Authors note: Heyy just wanted to say thanks for commenting your ideas and thoughts about my story, I read every single one and it really helps me stay motivated! Also there are plenty more chapters coming your way, sorry this one is shorter but hang tight!
We've got the Avadis + Gandalf duo back again and some more Legolas coming your way :)

Have a good afternoon/evening/night x