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Disclaimer:
I
do not own the character or places associated with the Lord of the Rings or
Middle Earth. They are the creations of J. R. R. Tolkien and the property of
Tolkien Enterprises.
“Take heed: you do not find what
you do not seek.”
-English
Proverb
*************
Just
before dark Elladan, who had not left his position on the bed, huffed in
frustration, stood, and headed for the door.
“Where
are you going?” Elrohir asked.
“It
has been all day and ada’s condition has not changed. His illness has to be
caused by something and I am going to see if I can find out what.”
“You
are going to ada’s study then?” asked Estel.
“Yes,
Estel, come get me if anything changes.”
“I
will come with you,” Elrohir said as he stood, “ada’s has many books and
he is really the only one who know where to find anything it there. We might
have more success with the both of us.”
Elrohir
turned before he walked through the door.
“Estel,”
he said.
“Don’t
worry Elrohir, I will let you know of any change.”
Elrohir
nodded and followed Elrohir out of the room. Aragorn sighed and sat down in his
brother’s place.
“Ada,
I wish you wake up. You are much better at finding causes to strange ailments
than we are.”
Aragorn
took a deep breath. He was used to waiting and worrying over his brothers or
Legolas, but Elrond had always been there to provide strength. Aragorn knew that
nothing ever seemed too bad when his father was there, because in the back of
his mind he still held faith that he could find an answer to everything. He knew
it was a bit of a childish belief and that even his father had his limits, but
it was a faith that had never been proven wrong yet. Aragorn felt like one of
the foundations he depended on was crumbling around him. Was every father he had
destined to be taken away from him?
Aragorn
looked up when he felt a light hand rest on his shoulder. Legolas stood directly
behind him and was smiling supportively down at him.
“Do
not loose your hope, mellonamin. I am sure Elrond will not succumb to anything
without a fight, for he is quite stubborn, as are his children.”
“You
are right, my friend. I will not give up without a fight either. I will go to
the ends of Arda to find a solution if need be. Thank you.”
Legolas
smiled warmly down at the young ranger.
Both
looked down as Elrond entered another of his restless fits. Elrond appeared to
be in more distress than previously and his breathing became much more labored
and shallower. Not knowing what was going on Estel clasped his father’s hand
between both of his.
“Fight
it ada, I know you can. If you can here me, know that I am here with you and so
is Legolas, you are not alone.”
Legolas
was going to kneel down next to the bed and lend support in the hope that Elrond
could still maybe hear them, but a faint and strange sensation made a chill go
down his spin. He turned slowly and walked to the balcony door and opened it.
********
Elladan
looked up from the book he was skimming through when he heard his brother suck
in his breath sharply. He looked at Elrohir and arched a delicate eyebrow.
“Really,
Elrohir, this is the second time in one day. Must I watch over you constantly?
What could you have cut yourself on now?”
Elrohir
gave his brother a rude look.
“I
have not cut myself on anything, halfwit. I was merely distracted and bumped my
leg on the table and that was not my…” Elrohir trailed off as a barely
perceptible shiver went down his spin.
“Did
you feel that?” he asked Elladan.
Elladan
nodded and turned to the door. He went over and opened it with Elrohir right
behind him.
The
wind had picked up unexpectedly wiping through the twins hair as they stood in
the doorway. It rustled the trees as it swept through and blew the chairs and
such sitting outside over. The wind grew to howl around the trees and then it
stopped suddenly.
“What
was that?” Elrohir asked looking worriedly at his brother.
“I
do not know, Elrohir.”
“I
will go find out,” Elrohir offered.
*******
Glullyn
stalked around in a circle. He hated forests and he hated waiting, especial
waiting in a forest. He was on the northern border to the valley of an elven
realm, which was too close for comfort. Not that he was afraid of course he told
himself. It was a place he would have never even found if not for the one he
waited for now. What made it worse was the lord over that valley; he had found
out, had some sort of skill at knowing things were going to happen. He was only
glad he did not have his elven accomplice’s task. If the elf got caught it was
their problem. He looked at his companion in annoyance. The young blonde man was
leaning back against a tree seemingly carefree. His associates featured were
pale in contrast with the swarthy man.
“You
should take more heed Vocyn. You never know when someone could take advantage of
your carelessness.”
Suddenly
Glullyn felt the chill of cold steel slide silently under his chin to rest ready
to bit into his neck.
“How
right you are Glullyn. You should take your own advice,” said a silky and
melodious voice from somewhere near him.
“Emlin?”
he asked trying to hide the surprise he felt.
Silver
laughter floated to his ears and he felt the blade glide away from his throat
with out, he silently gave thanks to anything listening, cutting his throat. A
slender cloaked figure stepped out from the shadows to stand between Vocyn and
Glullyn holding a slender sword of elven make. The figure reached up and pulled
the hood of the cowl down to reveal pale golden hair that glowed in the
moonlight. The elf’s hair shone in and reflected the moonlight at the same
time in a way that it appeared silver gold in color.
Glullyn
sighed in relief.
“Do
not look so worried, if I was going to kill you I would not have given you a
warning first. You would be dead even now.”
Vocyn
came up to the elf and took a hold of the hand that did not hold the slender
sword.
“My
lady,” he said giving a slight bow over her hand in a formal greeting.
The
elf maid turned striking green eyes to him that shined with an elven light. Her
features were delicate and extremely fair.
To
Vocyn the female was in every way stunning and exotic beyond words compared to
every human woman he knew. A maid he knew that wouldn’t think twice about
slitting his throat in the middle of the night should she feel the impulse, a
quality that made her all the more enticing to him. His actions evoked more
lyrical laughter.
“Well,
Glullyn, at least one of you knows how to greet a lady.”
Glullyn
wisely kept the comment that he would hardly call her a ‘lady’ to himself.
Even as pathetic as is life was, he valued it.
“I
see you aren’t dead. So, you were successful then?” Glullyn said in his
rough voice.
“How
very perceptive Master Human,” she said mockingly.
Glullyn
rolled his eyes and Vocyn chuckled.
“Yes,
human, the Lord of Rivendell is in throe even now. Did you ever doubt?”
“Of
course not Emlin,” answered Vocyn, “We had full faith in your
guilefulness.”
Emlin
laughed again at the young human. He never quit. Her expression turned series as
she turned back to Glullyn.
“Were
you successful?”
Glullyn
nodded, reached into his pouch, and pulled out a small vile. He threw it to the
elf, which caught it smoothly.
“You
had to ask for the rarest thing you could find didn’t you? We had to go all
the way to Gondor for that and then it was in the hands of a very formidable
apothecary.”
Emlin
raised a delicate brow at Vocyn.
“I
do hope it did not tax the procurer’s skills to much?” she said facetiously.
Vocyn
gave a bow.
“Of
course not, lady. I admit he was a bit loath to hand it over, but I eventually
managed to convince him.”
“I
am sure you did,” she said dryly.
“The
reason, Master Human, that this was so hard to come by,” Emlin said holding up
the vile, “is because few are left who know what it is the cure for and even
less know how to make it, for only a couple of beings know the drug is even
made.”
Emlin
chuckled at the satisfying irony of it all. One of the few people who could
possibly recognize and treat Elrond’s condition was ironically the Lord of
Rivendell himself, but he, unfortunate for him anyway, would never wake to be
able to do so. The sweet irony is what made it so fun and such an appropriate
death after all.
“Now,
I must get back before it is noticed that I am not there. Everything is in
order?”
Glullyn
nodded in reply.
“I
hope it is worth all of the trouble,” he muttered.
Emlin’s
sharp hearing picked up the mumbled phrase.
“When
is vengeance not?” she said emotionlessly, but her eyes shone with suppressed
fury.
Emlin
pulled the hood back up and disappeared into the dark as silent as death.
*******
Elrohir
burst through the door to find Estel still sitting on the bed and Legolas
standing on the balcony.
“Did
something happen?”
“Ada
had another restless spell, but it was worse this time. His condition appears to
be getting worse as well, if that is possible. He was struggling for breath a
minute ago.”
“I
felt it as well, Elrohir,” Legolas said from the doorway.
Elrohir
walked over to Legolas and out of Aragorn’s earshot.
*******
Estel
knew Elrohir was going outside so he could talk to Legolas alone. It irritated
him at the thought of being treated like a child. Something he would definitely
discuss with his brother later for they still had a hard time accepting that he
was an adult now. Estel sighed; right now he did not have the urge to bicker
with his brother. Estel reached out and tenderly brushed a stray strand of dark
hair behind Elrond’s pointed ear. Well, maybe he could not argue with his
brother because he felt like a child at the moment, one about to be orphaned.
“You
will make it through this ada. I know you can.”
Estel
had to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. This simply was not right.
Estel wondered if Elrond had to go through this every time one of his brothers
or he was brought back the worse for ware. If he did, how did he bare it?
Aragorn
heard a soft knock at the door. He quickly wiped at his eyes and called for the
person to enter.
“Laurelin,”
Aragorn said in a way of greeting.
The
golden-haired elf smiled at the ranger and bowed.
She
walked over and knelt down in front of Aragorn. She checked Elrond’s pulse
then laid the back of her hand to his forehead. His pulse was slight and quick
with no signs of fever. Laurelin sighed in dismay.
“Would
that he would have a fever, at least that I know how to treat.”
She
looked up at Elrond’s human son and did not miss the signs of his previous
crying.
“And
how are you my young lord?”
Aragorn
forced a half smile to his face.
“I
am fine Laurelin, hantale.”
“Do
not give up hope yet, young one, your father yet lives. As long as he draws
breath there is always a chance he will beat it on his own or that a cause will
be found. I have known Master Elrond for a long time and trust me when I say he
is quite resilient. Your love lends strength to him I am sure and there is no
shame in showing it.”
She
smiled warmly at Estel and rose to stand in front of him. She reached out and
lifted his head up with a delicate hand.
“You
were well named Estel,” she whispered as she kissed him on the forehead.
“Thank
you,” replied Aragorn honestly.
Laurelin
gave him one last smile and turned towards the balcony.
“My
lords,” she called.
*******
“I
felt a slight tingle of energy when your father was distressed before the wind
blew in protest.”
“Elladan
and I felt it as well. Do you think Estel noticed?”
“He
noticed the sudden winds, but I do not think he felt the disturbance and I have
not told him. I did not wish to increase my young friend’s anxiety. Do you
feel the air?”
“Yes,
mellonamin, I do. It slowly grows dull.”
“Is
it the ring?” asked Legolas.
“Besides
amplifying the wearers natural strengths one of the ring’s powers is it wards
of decay and postpones the weariness of the world and such Imladris is
protected, but…”
Elrohir
had to take a deep breath before he could continue.
“But
it cannot do such on its own. It must have a keeper.”
Elrohir
could not stand to finish that it had to have a ‘living’ wearer to protect
Rivendell. He also worried that was not all that was happening. Would it be
possible for his father to unknowingly strike out with it in his delirium or
whatever it was he was experiencing? Either possibility did not bode well for
his home. Legolas’ voice brought him out of his contemplation.
“Have
you found anything in your father’s books?”
Elrohir
sighed sadly.
“We
can find no records of such an illness and there is nothing to suggest ada would
be weakened enough to be susceptible to one anyway.”
Legolas’
eyes widened in shock as Elrohir’s words sunk in.
“You
believe he has ingested a toxin or poison?”
“Come
Legolas, we both know the odds of Elrond, master of herbs and bad tea,
accidentally poisoning himself.”
Both
elves quieted when they heard a knock on the door. They head Laurelin enter to
check on Elrond and see if they were in need of anything. She was talking with
Estel and trying to lend him support. Legolas stepped in close to Elrohir and
spoke barely above a whisper so that even Elrohir right beside him had to strain
to hear.
“How
could someone poison your father? He would have to know and trust the person in
order for them to accomplish that and no elf in Rivendell would want such a
thing.”
“I
know that Legolas. But ada is not sick; he is suffering from something else.”
“Suppose
you are right, who would dare?” Legolas asked incredulously.
“I
do not know,” Elrohir answered angrily through gritted teeth.
“But
whoever it is knows whether there is a remedy or not and if there is I intend to
get it,” Elrohir continued determinedly.
“My
lords,” a soft call came from inside the room.
“Yes,
Laurelin?” Elrohir answered.
Laurelin
came out onto the balcony looking a little embarrassed. Her long gold hair
reflected the moonlight gently.
“I
apologize for the intrusion. I was just checking to see if you needed anything
or if I could assist you in any way.”
“No,
Laurelin,” answered Elrohir, “But thank you for the encouraging words you
spoke to Estel.”
Laurelin
tried to hide a slight blush from her fair features. It was no secrete she had
liked the sons of Elrond for years now.
“Well,
I am a healer my lord. That goes for emotional as well has physical ailments,”
she said.
She
then turned to Legolas.
“Your
kinswoman is doing well now Prince Legolas. Master Elrond was able to help her
before…” she trailed off and they saw her bottom lip tremble ever so
slightly before she steadied herself.
“Well,
I will leave you to your privacy. Take care and do not hesitate to call if you
need anything.”
She
gave a quick bow and then left the balcony. Legolas raised an eyebrow at Elrohir
when he saw the dark-haired elf smile at the maid’s retreating form. Elrohir
saw the questioning glance from his friend.
“What?”
******
Galadriel
glided quietly down a long flight of steps into an enclosed garden with a stream
flowing from a fountain. She paused to look up at the evening star’s radiant
light and the starlight glowed in her golden hair.
Galadriel
filled a silver ewer with water from the stream, poured it into a silver basin,
and breathed on the water.
She
was not really sure she wanted to look into the mirror. She was afraid of what
it might show. Elrond was an old friend and son-in-law by marriage. If it was to
be, how could she possibly tell her daughter that her husband had fallen? When
the water stilled she did not command the mirror to show her anything, letting
the mirror show her what it would. She bent over and looked in. The glassy
surface dimmed to block out the stars, grew grey, and then clear. What she saw
made her frown and her blue eyes saddened. Galadriel closed her eyes and turned
away from the mirror when it was finished. She stood that way for a few moments
shining in the starlight, tall and pale. She slowly opened her eyes to look at
the quiet figure at the top of the stairs.
Celeborn
was patiently standing there with his silver hair gleaming in the starlight. He
walked silently down the stairs to stand in front of Galadriel. He said not a
word, but waited for his wife to speak.
“Traitorousness
has come to the House of Elrond and he has been betrayed. He struggles against
the shadow even now,” she said gravely.
“Will
he survive?” Celeborn asked quietly.
Galadriel
looked into her husband’s eyes with worry and shook her head.
“I
do not know.”
********
Elladan
sat still pouring over tomes and books, while Elrohir questioned everyone who
had even seen their father today. As Elladan looked out the window and saw the
pale light of dawn, yesterday, he corrected himself. He closed the book he was
looking through irritably, slamming it shut. His father was dying and this was
getting him nowhere! He could not find anything about a plant, toxin, or poison
that caused such coma like effects where the person still moved and did not
carry a fever. The ones he read about that could drop an elf so quickly did not
have the same symptoms. He did not understand it. His father was suffering from
something after all. There had to be something somewhere on it. Elrohir was
right, the person responsible for it would know. Elladan’s eyes blazed at the
thought of someone actually inflicting his father so. Whoever it was would pay
and dearly. He swore to that.
Elladan rubbed his scratchy eyes and glanced out the window to look at the gardens, which were slowly losing luster, and his eyes widened in shock.
He must be daydreaming.
It could not be possible. He rubbed his eyes again and looked out the window. The image was still there! Hope filled his heart and Elladan could have shouted out loud. He stood quickly and almost tripped over the chair in his haste as he bolted from the room. Elladan sprinted down the hall startling an elf coming from the opposite direction. He ignored the boy and ran to the west door and opened it.
The image was still there!
There, coming from the west and approaching the Last Homely Home was Mithrandir and Glorfindel.