Peredhil reappeared in his bedroom, collapsing in a heap. Wes, who had been waiting patiently on a stool by the door, leaped to his feet and hurried to Peredhil?s side.
?You cannot keep doing this to yourself,? Wes chided, concern etched in his voice.
?It?ll be over soon,? Peredhil said with gritted teeth, bringing his eyes up to Wes?s face with an effort. ?Now be a good man and get me to my feet.?
Wes obeyed. Within a few moments, they were joined by Elgin, whose own response to Peredhil?s condition was the slightest lifting of an eyebrow.
?To the meeting,? Peredhil ordered, his breath coming in gasps. Wes began to protest, but a glance from Elgin caused him to fall silent. Peredhil felt hands gripping his arms, providing much-needed balance as they half-carried, half-dragged him down the corridor to the conference hall.
He tried to recall how he had gotten to this point, unable to walk unaided, sleepless for the better part of a week, and pushing his body to an extreme that would likely have lasting consequences for his wellbeing. Much of it was related to preparing Elessar for the inevitable war as the Dark One grew in strength. But he had also tried to maintain some control over his personal life, which seemed to be slipping through his fingers. Supposedly he and Piper were a couple, but he barely saw her. In addition, he had hurt someone he cared about deeply and almost lost a few friends in the process. His mind harkened back to Johnny?s words earlier in the night: ?Ya can't ?make things right?, ya know. Ya can't turn back time. But ya can make things better than they are now.?
He remembered his aunt?s little ditty about life, which she compared to hammering a nail. ?Sometimes you hit the nail on the head, sometimes you hit your finger instead,? she would say when Peredhil would complain about some problem or perceived injustice. And she was right. He had loved and suffered, laughed and cried, accomplished and failed. He had many regrets, but there were things to be content with as well. He had always tried to be kind to others, to use his talents to promote peace and justice, and to enjoy life?s little miracles.
He felt Elgin and Wes tighten their grips as he stumbled. Clearing his mind, Peredhil focused on putting one foot in front of another. He grew aware of the effort involved in something as automatic as blinking his eyes. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Wes?s friend Congar fall in step alongside Wes, the two of them chatting amiably. Blink. Elgin was saying something to him, but Peredhil could not decipher the words. Pulling his head up, he tried fruitlessly to read his friend?s lips. Blink. Elgin spoke with apparent urgency to Wes. Blink. A blur of motion. A sharp jab in his back. Hands loosening on his arms, pitching forward. Blink. Pain. Darkness.
?You cannot keep doing this to yourself,? Wes chided, concern etched in his voice.
?It?ll be over soon,? Peredhil said with gritted teeth, bringing his eyes up to Wes?s face with an effort. ?Now be a good man and get me to my feet.?
Wes obeyed. Within a few moments, they were joined by Elgin, whose own response to Peredhil?s condition was the slightest lifting of an eyebrow.
?To the meeting,? Peredhil ordered, his breath coming in gasps. Wes began to protest, but a glance from Elgin caused him to fall silent. Peredhil felt hands gripping his arms, providing much-needed balance as they half-carried, half-dragged him down the corridor to the conference hall.
He tried to recall how he had gotten to this point, unable to walk unaided, sleepless for the better part of a week, and pushing his body to an extreme that would likely have lasting consequences for his wellbeing. Much of it was related to preparing Elessar for the inevitable war as the Dark One grew in strength. But he had also tried to maintain some control over his personal life, which seemed to be slipping through his fingers. Supposedly he and Piper were a couple, but he barely saw her. In addition, he had hurt someone he cared about deeply and almost lost a few friends in the process. His mind harkened back to Johnny?s words earlier in the night: ?Ya can't ?make things right?, ya know. Ya can't turn back time. But ya can make things better than they are now.?
He remembered his aunt?s little ditty about life, which she compared to hammering a nail. ?Sometimes you hit the nail on the head, sometimes you hit your finger instead,? she would say when Peredhil would complain about some problem or perceived injustice. And she was right. He had loved and suffered, laughed and cried, accomplished and failed. He had many regrets, but there were things to be content with as well. He had always tried to be kind to others, to use his talents to promote peace and justice, and to enjoy life?s little miracles.
He felt Elgin and Wes tighten their grips as he stumbled. Clearing his mind, Peredhil focused on putting one foot in front of another. He grew aware of the effort involved in something as automatic as blinking his eyes. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Wes?s friend Congar fall in step alongside Wes, the two of them chatting amiably. Blink. Elgin was saying something to him, but Peredhil could not decipher the words. Pulling his head up, he tried fruitlessly to read his friend?s lips. Blink. Elgin spoke with apparent urgency to Wes. Blink. A blur of motion. A sharp jab in his back. Hands loosening on his arms, pitching forward. Blink. Pain. Darkness.