Erestor paced back and forth, nervousness written over his features. He had sent for a healer to wait with him and she stood just off to the side, watching.

"My lord?" Erestor stopped pacing and stared at her.

"What?" She did not answer, only pointed. Erestor turned and saw a small figure come out of the forest, carrying a large, unwieldily bundle. It was Elrond, Erestor realized and he was carrying a body. Heedless of his dress robes, Erestor dashed across the field to Elrond, the dew soaking his robes and making them cling to his legs. He could see that Elrond was exhausted from carrying the heavy load.

"What happened? Who is that?" Erestor peeled a bit of the makeshift sling and grew a sharp intake of breath. "How did you-? Never mind, let me take him and run ahead to the healer's. They are waiting and you are tired. The healers can do what needs to be done." Elrond had not the strength to protest. Erestor had Glorfindel into his arms and was about to set off when Elrond stopped him.

"Wait." Erestor watched as the already drained Elrond placed a hand on Glorfindel and flooded him with healing energy until both Elrond's hand and the area around it glowed silver. "Now you may take him." Erestor took off and Elrond watched as he raced across the field and into the house. In spite of what Erestor had said, Elrond knew only he had the knowledge to heal Glorfindel and so with another prayer to the Valar, Elrond set off jogging across the field.

By the time Elrond had made his way up to the healing rooms, the other healers had already stripped and bathed Glorfindel and were in the process of gently removing Elrond's makeshift bandages from the wounds on his arm. One of the healers quietly informed him that Glorfindel was cold to the touch and seemed to have a fever, but this Elrond already knew. He sat and tried to build up his energy again. Erestor came and stood behind his chair; Elrond could feel his anxiety. As he watched the healers work, he knew that it would not be enough. He waited until they were finished, then shooed them all out. Moving to sit next to Glorfindel's head, he placed one hand on Glorfindel's forehead and the other on his chest. He closed his eyes and reached deep into himself. He was already drained almost to the breaking point, but Glorfindel would never even awaken if he did not do something. He knew that with certainty. Elrond grabbed hold of what little healing power he had left and also took hold of his inner fire and poured both into Glorfindel. He barely registered Erestor's sound of protest as he watched Elrond's life force flowing into Glorfindel. Elrond watched Glorfindel's body begin to glow with a silver fire and when it was entirely covered, he stopped. He had given much and slumped over in his chair, eyes closed in exhausted sleep.

Erestor tried not to gasp as he watched the already drained Elven lord begin to pour energy into Glorfindel. There was nothing he could do as he watched Elrond's life force slowly drain away. But Elrond stopped before going too far and he slumped over with his eyes closed, asleep. Erestor smiled sadly as he moved to lay Elrond in the cot beside Glorfindel. He knew if he took Elrond back to his own chambers, he would be in trouble when Elrond awoke. He laid the lord down gently and covered him up in a warm blanket. After giving away so much energy, the half-elven Elrond was bound to get chilly. As Erestor looked down on Elrond's closed eyes, he shuddered. No matter how many times he saw an exhausted Elrond sleep with his eyes closed, it still gave him a fright. For an Elf, closed eyes only meant unpleasant things, such as fading and death. He gazed over at Glorfindel, whose eyes were also closed and was remind just how close they had come and how very close they still were to losing the Seneschal. Erestor sat down with a book, determined to keep watch on the two Elven lords until they awoke.

Elrond returned to consciousness slowly, feeling slightly confused and off-balance. He opened his eyes and blinked slowly.

"Elrond? Can you hear me?" Elrond nodded his head and sat up, the voice sounding familiar. It was his advisor's voice. He looked around and soon everything came back to him. He tried to stand, but his legs were tangled up in a blanket.

"Erestor, help me please." Erestor came next to him, but shook his head.

"Not yet. I want you to eat something first." Before Elrond had a chance to protest, Erestor held up a hand. "Glorfindel is the same as before, you can see that for yourself. His colour has improved slightly though. But you have been sleeping for several days and will do no one any good until you replenish yourself." Elrond sighed. Erestor was right, as usual. He quickly ate the food Erestor handed him, not really tasting any of it. After he was finished, Erestor helped him untangle himself. "Elrond, you know that I care for Glorfindel very much, but Imladris cannot do with a leader any longer. Everything has been stopped these past days and now there are things that cannot wait any longer. I need to return to my work and yours. You will let me know if anything changes?" Elrond stood and placed a hand on Erestor's shoulder.

"Of course, mellon nin. And I thank you." Erestor simply nodded and was gone. The first thing Elrond did was check on the pale Elf lying next to him. Erestor had been right. His colour had improved. Knowing it was not a very smart thing to do after so thoroughly draining himself and also knowing it was the only thing he could do, Elrond flooded Glorfindel with his newly regained healing power.

He was occupying his time by mixing some healing tea when he heard a quiet moan. Turning, he saw Glorfindel's eyelids fluttering. He quickly moved to the chair beside him, tea in hand. Glorfindel's eyes opened and his eyes darted all around, not seeing Elrond. Elrond watched as the realization of where he was set in. The blonde let out the most heart wrenching, pain filled moan Elrond had ever heard.

"Glorfindel, do you hear my voice?" Glorfindel turned his eyes towards Elrond and the Elven lord shivered at the depth of the despair and anguish he saw there.

"Why?" Glorfindel whispered, his voice hoarse and broken from disuse and pain. "Why did you not let me die?"

"I couldn't let you die. I may be a ruler, but I am a healer at heart." Glorfindel looked away.

"Healer or not, you had no right overriding my rather obvious wishes."

"Glorfindel, did you even think everything through before you made that choice?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"I might have if you had given me the chance!" Elrond took a deep breath. Getting angry with Glorfindel was not going to help matters. "That is beside the point. What you did was very selfish. Did you not even stop to think about the pain your actions would cause others? The nurse told me the twins cried for hours, Glorfindel. They are more attuned to nature than most. They felt your pain. And what about Lord Erestor and myself? Did you think we would not miss you?" Glorfindel turned away once more, but not before Elrond saw the tears on his face. "Glorfindel, we want to help you." Glorfindel shook his head.

"You don't understand. You can't."

"Why can't I understand? Do you think I am a stranger to pain?" Silence. "Answer me, Seneschal." But he did not. Elrond slammed the cup of tea down on the table and Glorfindel flinched in surprise and turned his face back towards the lord. "You will drink all of this tea. Now." At first he refused. Why should he drink tea when he wanted to die? But the look Elrond gave him soon overrode his reasoning. If he ever wanted to be left alone, he would have to drink that tea. As soon as he saw Glorfindel was drinking, Elrond sent a servant to inform Erestor of the change in Glorfindel's condition and to get a little food from the kitchen. "Now, when the food gets here, you will eat it all. I will not accept even a single crumb left on the plate. Do you understand?"

"Why should I eat? There is no point to it. I just want to pass on. I have already made my choice. Why can't you let me escape?" Elrond softened for a moment.

"Contrary to what you believe, I do understand. But I also understand that killing yourself is not the answer. You've only just returned to life. Give it a second chance and you'll soon see what I mean."

"You can't possibly understand what I am going through! You've never had everything you ever known ripped away in one moment. You've never had to come back to the world you thought you'd left forever and be reminded of what you lost with every breath you take and with every word that is said to you! How can you, Elrond Peredhil," he said with a snarl, "who still has family, friends, a safe home, everything! ever understand?" Elrond spun around away from his patient. His remarks were beginning to anger the Elven lord. Sub-consciously, he knew he shouldn't get angry, Glorfindel was obviously distressed, but he couldn't help it. He was tired and thinking irrationally. Glorfindel had no idea what Elrond had been through in his lifetime. In fact, Glorfindel had been in Mandos' halls for most of it! Just then, a servant arrived with Glorfindel's food. Elrond took the tray and set it down loudly on the table next to Glorfindel's bed.

"As I said before, you will eat all of this food. If you don't, I will personally force it down your throat." With that, Elrond stormed into the adjoining room, but left the door open. He would hear if Glorfindel tried anything. Glorfindel looked at the food with distaste, but did not doubt Elrond's word. He was almost finished eating when Erestor came in.

"Glorfindel, you are looking much better." Noticing the absence of anyone else in the room, Erestor was puzzled. "Where is Lord Elrond?" Glorfindel nodded towards the other room. His strength was beginning to fade and he was feeling very sleepy. Erestor disappeared but was back in a few moments, accompanied by Elrond, who then quickly left the healing rooms. Glorfindel wondered who would watch over him until he saw Erestor settling down next to him with a book. He saw Erestor lay something small and white on the table, but he was already too tired to care and soon fell asleep.

Erestor walked into the room indicated by Glorfindel's nod and was shocked to see Elrond sitting on the floor in tears. To see his strong leader reduced to this was more than a little unsettling.

"Elrond?" he questioned softly, settling down beside the stricken half-Elf. At the sound of his name, Elrond gave only a soft sob. Erestor gathered him into his arms. He had only seen Elrond cry once before and that was on the first anniversary of Gil-galad's death. It came to him then what today happened to be and a large piece of the puzzle clicked into place. He rubbed Elrond's back gently until Elrond seemed to quiet down. It was only then that he asked what was wrong.

"He-he hates me." Elrond said quietly, looking very vulnerable. Erestor knew he needed to tread softly here. The exhausted Elf was extremely open at the moment.

"Who hates you?"

"Glorfindel. He won't even try, won't even listen. He just keeps saying he wants to die. I know I am being childish but-"

"Glorfindel doesn't hate you, Elrond. He is just very sad and needs to be shown the good in life that he is missing. But right now what he needs most is rest, love and patience to show him that there is something worth living for. And what you need most is a nice warm bath, clean clothes and rest. You are more than exhausted and you are letting his words affect you too much. Go, I will watch him." Elrond looked at him hesitatingly, tears still glistening on his cheek. Erestor knew that Elrond had not told him all the reasons for his tears, but he chose not to quest further. Erestor stood and helped Elrond to his feet. "Go on. There's nothing you can do for him right now that I can't." Elrond followed him back out and left while Erestor settled next to an exhausted Glorfindel. He didn't know if Glorfindel saw him slip a small white note written in flowing script onto the table, but Glorfindel would see it when he awoke.