The Last Light of the Star

31 - Nothin' in the Cage of My Ribcage

When Legolas finally woke, he could hear muffled voices above him; yet, he couldn't see exactly who they belonged to. His vision was blurred and fading while his stomach was overflowed with nausea. He was sticky with sweat and a headache rang through his skull. Legolas felt completely exhausted and weak.

By the Valar.....what had happened?

He pushed himself up into sitting position—which was a mistake. The Prince immediately started heaving as the queasiness rose to his throat. Luckily, someone put a bucket under him just in time. As the contents of his stomach left, he could feel another individual holding back his hair, though he wasn't sure who it was. Everything just seemed so disoriented and perplexing.

But soon enough, the morphing dark shapes took on bodily forms and the colors returned. Legolas could make out the figures around him. Halafarin was mixing a potion at a table a little ways off and Belanor was standing next to him observing with arms crossed. However, Legolas was most surprised to see his father. The King knelt by his son's side—still holding back his blond locks.

"Ada (father)?" Legolas questioned weakly.

"Iôn nin (my son), you were found unconscious in the east hall last night. Who did this to you?"

The Prince frowned in confusion as he tried to process the world around him.

He was in the healing ward?
He had been unconscious?
Someone knocked him out?

His lips parted and eyes widened when the events of the previous night suddenly flooded into his mind.

Shit.

Legolas looked back up at the three men who were standing before him, waiting for an answer. When Legolas spoke his voice seemed so far away, as if he was trying to remember a distant event. "Arryin..." he murmured, the word trailing off into nothingness.

He was pulled out of his haze by his father's aggressive ranting. "That subversive little—"

Legolas lifted his hand and closed his eyes. His words coming out as a whisper, "Ada (father), please stop...."

To everyone's surprise, Thranduil listened to his son. Maybe it was because of how shaky and ill he looked? Maybe it was because of how heartbroken and weak he sounded? Whatever it was, they were all grateful because when Thranduil started ranting, he never stopped.

Belanor then spoke the question they were all thinking, "Arryin did this to you? Why?"

Legolas groaned and rubbed his temples. "She...she was trying to protect me—to protect us all."

Belanor shook his head. "You are not make any sense, Legolas."

The Prince groaned and pushed back the sheets. He slowly swung his legs over the edge of the cot and pinched the bridge of his nose. "She thought it made sense."

The three starred down at him in confusion. They all assumed his concussion was causing his words and ideas to fray and that made worry enter their minds.

Of course, Legolas knew what he was trying to convey to the men around him. It just wasn't coming out right. Not to mention, he couldn't exactly tell them everything considering it was Arryin's secret to tell.

The Prince indeed could see how Arryin would think such an action was a form of protection given what she had found out from Lady Galadriel. However, he did not agree with her choice, for he could see another way. The Prince believed that they would be safer with her here to help defend them. To have the Queen of the Stars beside them in battle would surly increase these chances. Right?