The burning logs crackled in the fireplace, causing waves of heat that washed over the tired doctor sitting in the chair, held hostage by a purring cat curled up on his lap. The animal has persisted in not leaving the doctor after the whole incident. Never had the feline been far from his bed, or the chair when he had the strength to get to one.
Elias' hand brushed along the cat's back absent mindedly, the soft purrs helping to calm the man as the two soaked in the pleasant warmth. The doctor's eyes sat on the flames as they danced around the ember glowing logs, the crackling of the wood creating a soothing sound and breaking the silence around him. It was not often as of late that he found himself alone.
Now, he had some time to think. It wasn't long ago that he had spoken of these thoughts to Aeruthuil, but now they'd come back when his mind lingered on the declining state of his body. If he was about to leave this world, then something had to be done about his possessions. There was no child of his blood to take over, as had always been the plan, but he was not without people who cared for him and had become a great part of his life.
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To Maddoct, he'd leave the infirmary itself. All his tools, equipment and supplies. The dwarf had taught him much over the past few months and had been of great help. Not only in understanding the patients and their ailments, but in parts, himself. A good doctor needs a place to practice his work and Master Maddoct was the only one he could think of, the one physician who Elias could put faith in to carry on what the doctor had started here in the North.
To Remdir, he'd leave his cat. While Elias was uncertain whether the blacksmith even wanted a pet, he felt that it would be the best home for his small companion. A couple of years ago, he had found the cat abandoned and injured, deciding to take and mend the animal, with the plan of releasing the animal back into the streets, but such never happened. It reminded Elias of how the man had found him when he was a young boy in need and from that point, the grumpy smith had never truly left. An odd friendship that was never admitted to, there was no need for it, sometimes, not even a need for words.
Even after years of absence, the two had managed to find each other again, rekindling the old friendship. It was not by force or guilt, but a natural bond that the doctor could never fully explain. If Elias was to fade away from this world, it only felt fitting that the animal he cared so deeply for could serve as company to a lonely blacksmith.
To Ruevir, he'd leave the Barbershop. While the woman was still learning, she was passionate about the work and Elias was certain that given the help and guide, she would make for a brilliant barber. In a short time, he'd seen much progress and she was always eager to learn more about the anatomy. Where others would feel sickened, she was excited. Where others would scoff at his own passion, she would listen. He was aware many disagreed with his choice of teaching her, he had seen her potential and believed it was there still. The land would still need a skilled barber - and he saw none fitting that role more than the woman he had taken under his wing. He knew she could accomplish great things in the field.
To Kitrhi, he'd leave his books. His library was vast and he knew that not a single person would take it all, having the hobbit be the one to go through the tomes and have the first pickings felt right. She had shown interest in the works, both his and that of his father, so the man could think of no greater gift to give her than knowledge. Elias hadn't known her long, but she had become a close friend to him. He still didn't enjoy seeing how she strained herself to care for him, but she was as stubborn as a mule and it was hard to tell the hobbit to stop. He wouldn't burden her with more work, but instead give her time to relax and read, to learn and understand more of the world, as he did.
To Gustine, he'd leave the bottle of golden rain. The experiment that was meant to put him in the history books, but instead had been nothing but a fancy decoration. The kind hobbit had always managed to bring a certain joy into his life, a light in the darkness, and so it only felt fitting that he'd give her the most beautiful thing he had ever managed to craft. Hoping that the small bottle of raining gold flakes might brighten a gloomy day. It wasn't real gold as he had hoped for, but it had brought a smile to many and her smile had always lifted his spirits.
To Aeruthuil, he'd leave his clothing. While much of it would not fit the man, he could at least use the materials to craft something. He'd ask that the clothes of his brother would be kept whole, perhaps they'd even fit the Ranger and his larger physique. He had thought of many other things to give the man, but each time, he realized the Ranger would refuse to accept any of it, as he wasn't one to hold onto materials. What do you give a man that has nothing but the clothes on his back? Elias wanted to leave him so much more, but nothing he thought of was good enough. If at least his clothes would help patch Aeruthuil's, or be used to have new ones sewn, then that would be more than he could have hoped for.
Lastly there was the necklace. The item was a small sphere of thick glass, socketed into an intricate, thin setting of silver, with a similar chain attached to the frame - filigree, but strong. Within which sloshed a clear liquid. In it, there were flakes of what looked like gold, floating lazily - swirling in all directions when the sphere was shaken. Within the gilded mist, there was a silver silhouette of the White Tree of Gondor, standing in the middle of the sphere.
It was an item Elias had asked Maddoct to craft for him. Originally, it wasn't meant for the doctor, but a gift for the dwarf to give to another. When the man had seen the tree within the glass sphere, he knew it was his to keep. It was from that point that Elias had decided to give it to someone he'd hold dear and close to his heart, the one that he'd spent his life with when and if such a day would come. It would not.
She came to mind, but he was uncertain what it would mean then. There were those he cared deeply for, that had enriched his life, but at the same time made it more difficult. The more he thought on it, the harder it became to know what to do with the item. To Elias, it meant a great deal, but to others, it was nothing but fancy jewelry. Perhaps in the end, it was something meant to be buried with him. A fitting symbolism, he thought.
The doctor had been asked what should be done with his body. The question had struck him hard and placed heavy dread on his shoulders, but it didn't discourage him to answer. He was willing to offer his body to those that wished to open it and see what had killed him, to study the flesh and all within, until there was nothing more to be learned. At which point, he didn't care what was done. He would no longer be bonded with it.
