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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.
“We all labor against our own
cure, for death is the cure of all diseases.”
- Unknown
**********
Elladan practically bounded down the stairs and ran to the two approaching figures. He knew he looked like an elfling running out to greet them, but he did not care. He called out his friend’s names and, formal greetings aside, hugged them both at the same time almost bowling them over.
“Confounded elfling,” Gandalf said as he pushed Elladan off, “give and old man room to breath.”
“I apologize Mithradir. It is just you have a way of showing up when most needed.”
“What is going on?” Glorfindel asked.
“Ada is ill and will not wake and we have no idea why, but I fear his illness may be intentional.”
“That is a serious accusation Elladan. Come, tell me what happened and lets take a look before we come to such a conclusion.”
Elladan nodded and led the way into the house. He told Glorfindel and Gandalf all that had transpired up until their arrival as they walked. They entered into Elrond’s room without knocking to find Aragorn sitting in a chair next to the bed and Legolas looking out the window. Aragorn felt like he could shout in joy when he saw his two older friends, but he kept silent and moved to stand next to Legolas. Elladan came to stand next to them.
Gandalf walked around the bed and leaned his staff on the wall before he sat down on the edge of it. He placed a hand on Elrond’s forehead and mumbled something that none of the three younger ones could understand, and then he spoke in a clear and commanding voice.
“Elrond, hear me and awake.”
Elrond did not stir and Gandalf sighed.
“I cannot reach him. His mind has withdrawn too far into itself and I cannot feel him. Glorfindel, another elf might be more sensitive.”
Glorfindel nodded and sat down in Gandalf’s place as he stood. The fair-haired elf placed his hands on Elrond’s face and closed his eyes. He sat like that for a few moments before he spoke.
“I can feel him, but his mind is in great turmoil.”
Glorfindel removed his hands and laid one on top of Elrond’s. He turned to face Gandalf with a frown.
“I think Elladan might be right Gandalf,” he said gravely.
“It is has I feared when I could not rouse him,” Gandalf replied.
“Wait a minute,” Aragorn called, “Elladan is right about what?”
Gandalf looked from Aragorn to Elladan.
“We have not told Estel yet.”
Aragorn looked to Elladan and then to Legolas.
“Told me what?” he demanded.
“Ada has been poisoned Estel.”
“What! You did not think it pertinent to tell me!”
“We did not tell you,” Legolas chimed in, “because we were not sure. There would have been no reason to upset you if we were wrong.”
“That still does not make right!”
“Aragorn,” said Gandalf sternly, “now is not the time. What is important now is that we find out what Elrond has been given and by whom, so that we can cure him. He does not have the time for the three of you to bicker over unimportant matters. Take this up with your brothers and Legolas later.”
“You are right Gandalf,” Aragorn said nodding.
“What do you want us to do?” asked Elladan.
“We will hope Elrohir will find something out. Elladan, others still live in Rivendell and it needs someone to take care of the matters with its running. It is apparent that everyone now knows that Elrond is ill, but they do not need to know anything else. Glorfindel I would like you to stay here with Elrond since your senses in this matter are obviously more sensitive than mine. Keep a close watch over him. I do not like the sound of how Elladan described the burst of wind outside. I will go to Elrond’s study and keep searching. I may have more of an idea of what I am looking for.”
“Do you have an idea of what he has been given?” asked Glorfindel.
“Perhaps, but let us hope I am wrong.”
Gandalf placed his hand on Elrond’s shoulder.
“Hang on my old friend.”
He said no more as he walked to the door with Elladan behind him.
“Gandalf, what should Legolas and I do?”
Gandalf gave Aragorn a supportive smile.
“Keep lending support, my young friends. Your skills may be needed later, but with any luck I hope not.”
Gandalf and Elladan left the room leaving the three to wait.
Aragorn felt useless right now. He was also angry with his brothers and Legolas for keeping the fact about his father being poisoned from him. But he guessed if he stopped and thought about it he realized the facts himself. He had just been too preoccupied to put two and two together. It still did not make it excusable to him, though. But Gandalf was right; his grudge could be dealt with later. Aragorn sighed and sat back down. All he could do now was weight for word from Gandalf. He did feel some semblance of comfort with Glorfindel just being in the room with them.
Legolas turned to face the window again. Estel was undoubtedly angry with him right now. He could see it in the young humans eyes as he glanced over it frustration at Legolas. Legolas also felt frustrated with the fact that he could not do anything to help at the moment, but he was doing his best to hide it. Legolas sighed. The air was growing heavier all the time.
******
“Gandalf, do you know something?” Elladan asked as soon as they left the room.
“If I am right I have seen this before.”
“Why did you not tell Glorfindel when he asked you?”
“Because Glorfindel already knows which case I refer to.”
“If you have seen this before then you can help ada can you not?” asked Elladan.
“It is not that simple and I am not sure of my guess Elladan. I must go look through Elrond’s study.”
“You did not answer my question Gandalf.”
Gandalf sighed and looked at Elladan gravely.
“If I am right you will need to be told anyway. Glorfindel, Elrond, and I saw this sort of thing a long time ago. Let us say it was actually an accidental poisoning where the person happened to come by it while trying different remedies to find a cure for something else.”
“Did the person survive?”
“Yes, they did. It was Elrond who was able to recognized and treat the person. Unfortunately this all took place away from Rivendell and I only hope the tome survived that he might have recorded exactly what he used to treat it.”
“You mean you do not know what ada used?”
“No, Elladan, I do not. Glorfindel and I, through circumstances I am not going to discuss now, were not there at the time Elrond arrived and cured the person.”
“What are we to do if you cannot find what he used?”
“Let us keep our faith. We will deal with that when it happens, should that be the case.”
“Gandalf, how long do we have?”
“It as already been a day, I say not more than two or three more. That is why I must hurry.”
Two days. Elladan felt like a weight was placed on his chest. Two days. He nodded slowly and walked past Gandalf. How could he be expected to take care of paperwork and such meaningless things right now? Elladan took a deep breath to steady himself. Gandalf would find a way. He had to believe that.
******
Gandalf gave Elladan’s back a sympathetic look and went to Elrond’s study. He entered and began pouring through books. Why did it have to be Elrond to get poisoned with such a thing? Elrond wrote everything down at least. The remedy had to be in one of these books somewhere. All he need do would be to find it and gather the necessary herbs, then to figure out who had poisoned him in the first place.
*******
Elrond started to move around fitfully, this one worse than the previous ones. Aragorn ran around to the opposite side of the bed from Glorfindel and grabbed his father’s hand, while Legolas stood right behind him. Elrond’s fitful movements were almost violent and he groaned weakly.
Legolas felt it again. He looked to Glorfindel to see if the older elf felt it as well. Glorfindel looked outside with a frown. The wind had started to blow outside again.
******
Elrohir was talking to the Mirkwood maid as she was with his father most of the morning yesterday. She remembered him having a headache, but that was it. The same tingle ran down his spin and he heard the wind pick up outside.
The girl and Laurelin, who was re bandaging the maid’s shoulder, looked up at Elrohir.
“What is going on?” asked the golden haired elf.
“Do not worry, I am sure it is nothing.”
Elrohir figured there was need to worry either of them after all. He said thank you to the two and left.
*********
Elladan was leaning miserably over a desk piled with papers. He was having a hard time concentrating on the task at hand for he could care less about answering any of these people. Of course he knew why Gandalf was having him do this right now. If his father should not recover this would be his task from now on. Elladan swallowed hard. He refused to think of anyone but his father doing this, but two to three days? ‘No,’ he mentally scolded himself.
Elladan thoughts were interrupted when he felt a chill go down his spin.
********
Gandalf scanned through the book in front of him. ‘This has to be the one,’ he thought as he read Elrond’s eloquent handwriting. He was describing the symptoms of the sick human. Coma like effects, no fever, bouts of restlessness and distress, and no apparent illness before hand. This was definitely it.
“Oh, my friend, why did it have to be Rathrae?”
Gandalf sighed and flipped the page hoping Elrond had recorded what he used. Gandalf sighed in relief this time as he scanned the page and found that his friend had indeed wrote the proper ingredients needed. Thank the Valar Elrond was so meticulous with keeping records. Gandalf scanned the list of things needed and frowned. Some of the things required would be difficult to come by and especially one, the tumeric, which was very rare around here.
Gandalf felt the surge and heard the wind pick up outside. He frowned and got up from the chair and left the study.
*********
The wind outside picked up to a howl ripping through the trees. Glorfindel placed his hands on Elrond’s face.
“Stop it Elrond,” he called firmly.
Elrond started to almost thrash in an attempt to break free. The more he struggled, the more he struggled for breath, and the more the wind blew outside. Aragorn gripped his father’s hand even tighter. Glorfindel did not let go, either. He closed his eyes and spoke firmly.
“Elrond! Stop it.”
Elrond thrashed one more time and went slack once again and the wind outside died down. The room was silent as no one moved.
“What was that?” asked Aragorn.
To him his voice sounded loud and out of place in the silence. Before Glorfindel could answer Elladan came bursting into the room with Elrohir coming through the door almost behind him.
“I felt it again,” Elrohir said.
Legolas and Elladan nodded to Elrohir that they had too.
Gandalf walked calmly into the room.
“Elrohir, did you find out anything?”
“No, no one noticed father having anything but a headache yesterday. Did you find what you were looking for?”
“Yes, I am afraid I did. It is as I feared, Elrond has been given Rathrae.”
“I have never heard of this Rathrae before,” said Elrohir.
“Neither have I,” said Elladan.
“No you wouldn’t,” Gandalf mumbled to himself and then continued louder, “it is a poison.”
“What does this poison do to the victim?” asked Legolas.
“As you can see it mainly effects the mind,” Gandalf answered, “but the body cannot live without the mind and it will kill him eventually.”
“Did you find anything that will cure ada?”
“He cannot be cured by one thing Elladan. The remedy must be made and as I remember, Elrond is the only one of us to ever do so,” Glorfindel answered.
“Yes, but I found what is needed to be done in Elrond’s recordings.”
“Do you think you can make this mixture Gandalf?” asked Glorfindel.
“I believe so, but the ingredients may be hard to find.”
“Just tell us what you need Gandalf. Legolas and I will get whatever you need from wherever we have to go to get it,” said Aragorn determinedly.
“Yes, my boy, I know you would,” Gandalf smiled at the young human.
He proceeded to tell them what they would need and where to find it.
“Glorfindel and myself will stay here and prepare what we may and see if we can find out something from Rivendell’s inhabitants as well. The four of you hurry, remember we are pressing for time.”
The four younger ones, in hopes that Elrond could hear it, all gave him their reassurances and left the room to prepare for their departure as soon as possible.
“You are wondering why I suggested you stay here?” Gandalf asked Glorfindel.
“Actually, no, I was not. Shear experience would make me the fastest traveler by far, but I think I know why you want me here and I hope that never comes to pass.”
“Me neither my friend, but should the unfortunate happen the stronghold of Rivendell must remain protected from unfriendly eyes. I am sure Elrond would have entrusted the job to you, for the responsibility of the ring would be heavy for ones so young as Elladan or Elrohir. But I have faith that we will be successful.”
“Gandalf, what do you think is happening with the wind?”
“The poison effects the mind, so we can only imagine what Elrond is going through in his head. I believe he is unaware he is even calling forth the ring’s power.”
“Do you believe it could worsen enough to do harm to the valley or the others?”
“I do not know the answer to that either, my friend. We shall just have to see what happens and deal with it as it may.”
******
“Will adar be alright?”
“I do not know child,” answered Galadriel.
“I must go then grandmother. I was not there when naneth was most in need of someone, but I am able to be there for my father and I intend to be there to support him in anyway I can,” said Arwen.
“There was no way you could have known what would happen to Celebrian,” said Celeborn, “but I know your place is by Elrond’s side now.”
“As is yours melamin,” he continued turning to face Galadriel.
Galadriel turned only slightly surprised eyes to her husband. Celeborn laughed lightly at his wife’s expression.
“I have been around you long enough to know that you wish to go with Arwen, as do I, but someone needs stay here to handle the everyday affairs of a ruler. I will stay here and handle things, you go to our son-in-law and give him my best wishes.”
Galadriel smiled at her husband and brushed his cheek gently with her hand.
“Hantale melamin, we will set out immediately, but I fear we will reach Imladris after everything has transpired.” //thank you my love//
“Then you two can speed Elrond’s recovery along,” Celeborn said supportively.
Arwen kissed Celeborn on the cheek.
“Thank you grandfather,” she said softly.
*********
Emlin cursed mentally and silently ran down the halls of Rivendell. Word had gotten to her, with a little coaxing of course, that Gandalf and Glorfindel had returned and the istari was sending Elrond’s sons and Prince Legolas out after herbs he would need to make Elrond better. Emlin was no dolt. The wizard somehow knew what Elrond had been poisoned with and went snooping around Elrond’s study to find out was needed to make a remedy. He was sending the four to gather the appropriate ingredients, which she had no intention of letting them get their hands on them. She cursed under her breath again. The wizard was not supposed to be back yet. She should have foreseen that he would find out something was wrong somehow and head back here with all haste.
No matter.
Time was against Elrond and running out quickly.
She had gone snooping around Elrond’s study also. The wizard had conveniently left the appropriate book out for her and she now knew what they were after. Unexpected things happened, but she was flexible.
Plans could be altered.
Emlin quietly left Rivendell and headed for the place she knew the humans to still be. She smiled when she heard them talking. Did humans think everyone was as deaf as they were? Emlin did not have time to have fun with sneaking up on them now, so she went for the direct approach. She boldly walked out into the middle of their camp. The two humans had not heard the elf approaching and when she showed up right in the middle of their camp they jumped to their feet in surprise.
“Emlin!” Glullyn complained.
“Emlin,” said Vocyn with a far more pleased voice.
“Not now Vocyn. There has been a change in plans. The meddling wizard has returned and is sending the three sons of the elf lord and their friend out after the ingredients needed to cure him.”
“Have you been discovered?” asked Glullyn.
“Do not be so dense Glullyn. Do you think I would be standing here if I had?”
“Point taken, anyway, what are we to do now?”
“One of the herbs they are after is extremely rare. I do not want them to find! Right now I have the only cure and I intend to keep it that way. The Lord of Rivendell will die, but they do not know that and my remedy looses its bargaining power if they manage to make one, don’t you think?”
“What are we to do with the four riding out?” Glullyn asked incredulously.
“I do not care, Glullyn, be original. Just delay them anyway you can.”
“You make it sound so easy. If you can sneak up on us so easily how are my men expected to get the drop on elves?”
“Think for once Master Human. They must gather more than one thing and the rare one will require the most traveling. I will tell you were to find it and you can go there first, before they get there.”
“She’s right Glullyn, don’t worry so much,” laughed Vocyn.
Glullyn simply shook his head. It was dangerous business dealing with such things has poisoning an elf lord and already things were not going as expected. Now he had to deal with more elf lords. In the pit of his stomach, Glullyn did not like this idea one bit and knew it could end in disaster if they were not extremely careful. Emlin’s fair voice cut into his thoughts.
“Do not kill them if not necessary, but I do not want them to get their hands on that plant. Do what you have to do.”