Set in Stone - Haldir's Story -

Chapter 14 - Fever

His right hand wandered down her side and he tangled his fingers in the strings that laced her tunic on both sides. "Then I choose no watch," he mumbled against her lips. He pulled her close and where his tunic parted she found herself pressed against his bare chest. Slowly, very slowly he undid the laces first at one side and then the other and on the front, until the tunic almost slid of her shoulders. Daëra placed her hands on both sides of his neck, pulling him down so he would finally kiss her. And he did.

The first thing Daëra noticed after she had woken up was that it was morning: birds were singing and the air that blew into the little hut-in-the-trees through the open doorway smelled like spring. The blossoms of the mellorn trees had their own special aroma; it was like nothing Daëra had ever smelled before. Another thing she noticed was that Haldir hadn't woken up yet. She spent a few minutes watching him sleep, he had rolled onto his left side, his bandaged arm dangling over the side of the mattress. His soft black trousers contrasted the creamy skin of his chest. Only after Daëra had straightened her tunic and re-tied the laces, she realised his not waking was odd. Elves didn't sleep much and if they did it was more a light slumber. Her stirring should've woken him already. Following a sudden notion, Daëra reached out and lightly touched his forehead: it was burning hot and the touch did not wake him either. Within a second, Daëra had got off the mattress and started rummaging in the chests situated alongside one wall to find the herbs she needed. Fortunately, Elrond had showed her how to prepare a potion that lowered fever. Hopefully she remembered it correctly. Hopefully, it would work.

When she had the potion cooking over a fire at the foot of the tree, Daëra went to find a cloth and fresh bandages in the chests. She hadn't even bothered to put stones around the fireplace - it was only a campfire and Daëra could control it without even thinking twice about it. After having found everything she needed, she soaked the cloth and then squeezed it until it was merely damp. Daëra kneeled next to the mattress and carefully wiped Haldir's forehead. Within a matter of seconds, his eyes just opened, as if he'd never slept at all. He didn't move though and it looked like he would rather close them again. "I need to change your dressings," Daëra whispered. "And I am preparing something to lower your fever." - Still without saying a word, Haldir took a deep breath and sat up. Daëra sat down next to him and rested his left arm on her knee before undoing the bandage. The red-purple skin on his forearm formed a strange contrast to the rest of his body. It was warm, but Daëra had the distinct feeling that her ointment had been working well. It was helping his body to replace the burnt skin, yet it would need some more time, and rest. She put some more ointment on his arm, wrapped it into new dressings and fetched a glass of the potion from down at the ground. She'd had the fire burn down a few minutes ago, so it wasn't quite as hot anymore. "You will have to drink all of that," she said when she put the cup into Haldir's hand. She sat next to him while he zipped at the drink, thinking what else she might be able to do. "Shall I go and tell the Lord and Lady you are unwell? - They know about the ring, so I would tell them exactly how it happened..." Her gaze dropped to the ground. Haldir slowly shook his head. "Galadriel knows. She always knows. Besides," he took another zip and waited a few seconds before continuing. "Do not go." - "I won't." The word was less than a whisper and Daëra felt tears stinging her eyes, but she blinked them away. He would be better - she would make him better, and soon.

After a while, Haldir said without looking at her: "You might be able to tell the other wardens, though." - Daëra frowned, but in a mocking way. "I might be?" - He glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes. "Have you ever learned archery?" - "As a matter of fact, I have. It has been a while since I last let loose an arrow though - my father taught me it in Mithlond, yet I haven't needed it much since." - Haldir took another zip and nodded towards a corner of the room where he had placed all his weapons - Daëra couldn't help but notice how neatly he had put them in order: daggers, sword, quiver, bow, all ready to be put on. Haldir looked at her for a few seconds and then back to his weapons. "Take my bow."