The Healer’s Choice

3.

Aragorn left with a heavy heart as he heard Gimli’s last words. The dwarf was right, but he did not think he could save him.

Aragorn sat and leaned against a tree. Lowering his head, he began to cry at the loss of his best friend.

He could hear the neigh of the horses, but he ignored them. He was instantly alert, however, when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Is this your horse, human?” a soft voice asked.

Aragorn sighed as he recognized the voice, and rose to his feet.

“Haldir?” Aragorn asked, tears still on his face.

“What are you doing far away from your kingdom, King Elessar?” the March Warden asked.

“Having one last adventure with my friends,” Aragorn said. He was still crying as he said this.

“What is the matter, my lord?” Haldir asked. He saw the tears and was worried.

“Prince Legolas was badly hurt in a fight with some orcs, and I can not do anything for him,” Aragorn said. He saw disbelief on Haldir’s face.

“WHAT?” Haldir yelled, not believing he heard correctly. “How? When?” he started to ask, trying to understand what had happened. Scanning the area, he waited for the king’s answer, but Aragorn seemed at a loss for words.

“Where is he?” Haldir asked.

“He is with Gimli,” Aragorn said. “Inside the woods.”

“Come,” Haldir said to the other elves who were with him, and they left to find the prince, leaving Aragorn by himself.

Haldir walked through the woods and very soon heard the voice of the dwarf.

“Legolas, please stay with me,” he heard Gimli say. Coming to where the dwarf and Legolas were, Haldir saw that Gimli, too, was crying.

“Legolas?” Gimli kept asking, but the only thing he could hear was Legolas’ harsh breathing. “Don’t give up, Legolas. Stay with us!” the dwarf pleaded.


“Master Gimli,” Haldir called.

Gimli was surprised to see Haldir again, but he was too worried about Legolas to wonder why the other elf was there. He turned back to his friend, not wanting to leave him alone.

“Gimli, you need to let go,” Haldir said and tried to take Gimli away from Legolas.

“He is not dead yet. Where is Aragorn? Can’t he heal him?” Gimli cried in despair.

“With those wounds, he can not Gimli,” Haldir said.

“Then YOU can?” Gimli asked confused.

“There is something I can do to heal his deepest cut,” Haldir said, signaling to the other elves behind him.

“Then what is it?” Gimli asked.

End of chapter 3.


R/R