As soon as Eliad had come to, he slowly made his way to Bree in hopes that he would find someone. He winced at every single move he made towards there, his body aching from the wounds and damage to his body but dared not to speak or do anything due to the device. It had begun to rain, causing him to be dragging mud with him. Once he got there to Bree, he dragged himself to the Pony, covered in mud and blood as the device in his mouth was still there. To his relief, the figure that resembled Tahandil standing by the door. Tahandil turned and saw Eliad from afar as if on cue. He squinted his eyes then jolted forward running for him.
“Eliad!” exclaimed Tahandil.
Eliad, not being able to smile or have enough energy to move anywhere, lied down completely, wincing. Tahandil looked at the bloody mess of his friend with wide eyes and attempted to pick him up. Eliad winced as his body still ached from the hits and cuts, the blades on his tongue cutting it just a bit. Tahandil carried him inside and towards the upstairs room and placed Eliad on the bed, beginning to clean him off with the spare towels from last time.
“You just keep getting into trouble, huh?” grumbled Tahandil. “You fool!”
He continued to clean the blood and mud off. Eliad opened his mouth to speak but was careful with his mouth. He only moved his hand in a so-so manner. Tahandil sighed and took out the device carefully.
“You are very moronic, boy!” said Tahandil, starting to lose his cool and relaxed composure. “The hell has happened?”
“Zander happened…,” answered Eliad, clearing his throat before he spoke.
“You just make all sorts of new friends, don’t you?” asked Tahandil, raising a brow.
He sighed and checked the injuries around.
“He was sent to assist Aduninzil,” replied Eliad, sighing softly while closing his eyes. “He tried to get me to tell him where Aeru and Cassie were. Like hell I was going to tell him…”
He started to chuckle but groaned due to his chest area, only resulting in Tahandil shaking his head.
“None of your wounds are deep enough for stitching, but I will put some medicine on them and wrap them to keep them from infection,” said Tahandil. “You are not to leave my sight, understand?”
Eliad had closed his eyes.
“I doubt that was the last time I would see him…,” said Eliad. He then remembered and suddenly sat up, groaning afterwards, “My sword!”
“Lay down and take it easy, you fool!” ordered Tahandil, smacking Eliad’s head.
Eliad winced at the smack before lying down again.
“That bastard most likely left it there after he took me away…,” said Eliad.
“I will go look for it after I bandage you up, alright?” asked Tahandil, sighing.
As if that sent fear into Eliad’s system, he quickly moved to grab Tahandil’s arm gently.
“He could still be out there…,” said Eliad.
Tahandil took a pouch of the left over medicine and lightly poured it over Eliad’s chest.
“Yes, he could,” said Tahandil, nodding. “We can be so lucky. I’d rather enjoy killing the man myself.”
Eliad winced but let Tahandil treat him.
“His blades…,” said Eliad. “They were poisonous. One nick of one of them and I was knocked out…”
“There is nothing fair in love and war,” said Tahandil, shaking his head. “The bastard is a coward, didn’t want to face you out right.”
He then started to wrap Eliad’s chest with a clean cloth and bandages.
“If I couldn’t defeat him, then that means I’m nowhere close to actually being ready to go to Angmar…,” said Eliad, glancing towards the wall. “Hell, he did well of immobilizing me for now.”
“Yes,” agreed Tahandil, nodding. “In fact, that’s exactly what he did… But you will become better within this defeat, learn ways to counteract him, to defeat him. What is that old saying, hmm? What doesn’t kill you…”
He thought for a moment, trying to remember.
“Makes you stronger…,” finished Eliad, not helping but to give a small chuckle.
“Ahhh, yes,” smiled Tahandil, nodding. “Makes you stronger. And that is completely true, my dear friend. And you know why? Because after you get better, I am going to help you train. You understand, I am not going to be here forever to be able to keep healing you and being there for you, so I have to teach you what I have learned in the…” He paused and started to think again, “Well, I lost count on how many years I have been walking on this earth but, I’m pretty sure it’s been a lot, if my memory serves me correctly.”
He gave a slight chuckle. Eliad smiled a little towards Tahandil before sighing.
“I’m not going to hear the end of this from Aeru…,” said Eliad. He cleared his throat before doing his best to mimic Aeruthuil, “Again, one of my kin had to save your ass. Better start paying up with blood, sweat, and tears.”
“What Captain Aeruthuil don’t know won’t hurt him,” chuckled Tahandil. “I will say we were on a scouting expedition. That’s why we were gone. While you heal up, he will not have anything to say after that. Your secret is safe with me.”
“I really do owe you a lot, Tahandil…,” said Eliad, glancing towards Tahandil.
“No, you don’t, Eliad,” smiled Tahandil, patting Eliad’s shoulder. “It’s what friends are for. We do not expect anything for our friendly service because we know in the end, you would do the same. Rest now, my friend. You have been through many trials this day.”
Eliad closed his eyes once again before sighing, moving a hand to rub his eyes.
“And it just now started…,” said Eliad.
“Yes…,” replied Tahandil, nodding. “I know…”
He then walked to the chair and sat down. It did not take Eliad long to fall asleep despite of the few times he was knocked out.
