Disclaimer: Everything Lotr related belongs to the well known Mr Tolkien, not to me.

Wordcount: 1983/6456

Chapter 3

He seriously hadn't expected he'd see Erestor alive the next time, but to his utter surprise the boy still breathed when he checked on him in the evening. As well as in the next morning. The tent was mostly dark when he quietly made his way through the rows of the sick. Each time he came here he saw elves having vanished from their beds and other people lying on them, a gruesome sight. When he finally arrived at Erestor's side the youth did not seem to have moved at all, still lying in the same position as when Glorfindel had first seen him here.

He wasn't quite sure anymore about the boy's chances of survival. Elrond seemed quite confident now that he would live, after already having survived two days. His fever had lessened, even though he was still far too hot for his own good. Gently Glorfindel caressed the boy's face, hoping he'd feel he wasn't alone. By now he already expected to feel the unnatural heat of his fevered skin, but what he did not expect were the dark eyes to open. They stared at him, glazed with fever, but awake nonetheless.

Glorfindel needed a moment to regain his composure. Then a happy smile spread on his face. "Erestor", he greeted the young elf softly.

The dark eyes closed again for a moment. "Am I alive?" His voice was hoarse and barely audible and Glorfindel cringed at the thought of how painful speaking must be for him.

"Yes," he said, smiling happily. "You're alive. And I don't think you'll die anytime soon."

"That's good." A weak smile appeared on the bruised features, before they contorted slightly with pain as he tried to swallow, trying to moisten his dry mouth.

"Do you want some water?" Glorfindel asked gently, already rising to his feet to get what he was offering.

Erestor nodded slowly, opening his eyes once more in expectation of a cool drink.

"I'll get something for you." Glorfindel hastened to find what he had promised and returned some time later with a mug of fresh water to the young elf's side.

Glorfindel's face contorted in sympathetic pain as he carefully lifted Erestor's head, holding the mug to his lip. Greedily the mug was emptied, even though even this simple movement caused him pain. After that Erestor lay on his bed, gasping breathlessly from the effort of having to stop breathing for short moments to be able to drink.

Glorfindel said nothing further. The boy clearly wasn't in any condition to take part in a conversation. Making himself comfortable he put a hand on Erestor's arm, just sitting next to him, silently, lending him support. He remained far longer at his side than he had done the previous times. He should probably leave to take care of other things, but he simply couldn't bring himself to leave, now that he knew the youth was awake and felt his presence.

"Here you are." Startled he looked up to the person standing next to him. Elrond carefully sat down the supplies he had brought. "They are looking for you." There was another elf behind Elrond, but he remained in the background, waiting for instructions from the head healer.

Glorfindel sighed, looking ruefully at the sleeping elf. "I know. I just couldn't bring myself to leave him." Hesitantly he released the young elf's hand, caressing his face. "I guess I better go now, before they come in here to look for me."

Elrond nodded, leafing through the things he had brought. "I need to take a look at his injuries and change the bandages. Perhaps you want to stay until I'm finished."

Instantly Glorfindel reached for the pale hand once more, thankful to be able to stay just a little longer. At the same time a sick knot appeared in his stomach at the thought of what Erestor would have to endure in a few moments.

Elrond gazed at his friend with a sad look on his face. "This has to be done. I wish I could spare him the pain and the discomfort, but I just don't have the proper supplies in a place like this and he's in no condition to be moved."

Glorfindel nodded. "I know. I guess the pain is better than being dead, but still… I don't want him to be in pain."

Elrond sighed, waving to the elf accompanying him to step nearer. "Well then. There's no need in delaying this. I'll try to be quick and bring him as little pain as possible."

"I know you do." Glorfindel knew that his friend only wanted the best for the young elf, but he still had to fight hard not to scream at him as he felt the hand tighten around his and heard Erestor suck in the air as soon as Elrond lifted the thin blanket and started removing the bandages.

He only watched Elrond work for a few seconds, turning his head away as soon as he saw the wounds revealed. If he'd look he had no doubt that he'd vomit. The time until the two healers were finally finished seemed to be endless and Glorfindel had to fight hard not to pull them away from the young elf. He could tell that Erestor tried to bear the pain, but still now and then a pained moan slipped from his lips and his grip on Glorfindel's hand was so tight the warrior thought his fingers would break.

"You can look", Elrond's voice sounded after a seemingly endless time. "I'm finished."

Hesitantly Glorfindel turned his head, peering at the three elves. The bandage around Erestor's chest had been replaced and the cast around his leg gleamed likewise new and white. Relieved Glorfindel dared to turn completely. Erestor was breathing heavily and was lying with his eyes closed, but he did seem to be awake.

"Are you alright?" Glorfindel asked softly, bending down to stroke the boy's damp hair. Erestor nodded weakly, eyes squeezed closed to shut out the pain.

The second healer rose to his feet and left as Elrond pulled the blanket back over his patient's body. "I'm finished. I won't bother you again until tomorrow." Soothingly he stroked Erestor's healthy leg. "Rest." Rising, Elrond stepped away from the two elves to leave, motioning Glorfindel to follow him.

Glorfindel's first impulse was to stand up and follow his friend, but he couldn't possibly leave the young elf in a moment like this. Erestor was still fighting the pain left from the treatment and was holding fast on Glorfindel's hand. Lying down next to him, Glorfindel gently caressed his face, trying to soothe him and help him bear the pain.

It took some moments, but finally Erestor's breath slowed and the pain seemed to lessen. Slowly the dark eyes opened, staring at his companion.

Glorfindel smiled at him. "Does it still hurt?" he asked, worriedly.

"It always hurts", Erestor whispered tiredly.

Glorfindel sighed. "I know. Elrond's doing his best, but in a place like this…"

"It's not his fault. I knew something like this could happen when I left."

"I doubt it was your choice to go to war", Glorfindel grumbled, sitting up. "I reported you to Thranduil. He needs to know how many of his people are still alive and who."

Erestor nodded, thoughtfully. "Have you heard anything of my father?"

Sadly Glorfindel shook his head. "I asked some people and looked him in the lists of the fallen." Glorfindel swallowed hard at this, remembering how frighteningly long those lists were. "But I couldn't find him." Seeing Erestor's sad face he quickly added, "That doesn't mean anything. It is extremely difficult to keep track of who died and who didn't. It might have been an oversight or he was put on another list. He might be hurt and not able to tell who he is…"

"Or he might be dead," Erestor sadly continued.

"He might. You shouldn't mourn him yet, there's as big a chance that he lives as that he doesn't." Glorfindel hated to lie to the youth, but he didn't know how to reassure him in any other way. The truth was that Mirkwood had suffered the biggest losses and that Erestor's father was probably amongst them.

Erestor knew Glorfindel only wanted to spare him the truth, but he knew as much as the warrior that it was unlikely he'd see his father again.

Gently Glorfindel moved his fingers through the dark hair. "I'm sorry. I'd rather not leave you alone, but there's so much to do…"

Erestor nodded, understandingly. "Go. I'm tired, anyway."

"I'll come back later," Glorfindel promised, but Erestor already seemed to be asleep.

Elrond was waiting for when he stepped through the makeshift door.

"I'm sorry," Glorfindel apologized. "I couldn't leave him alone with this."

Elrond nodded. Taking a steaming cup of tea from the table he walked over to one of the chairs, sitting down. "I gathered as much." Sipping his tea he waited for his friend to sit down next to him.

"How is he?" Glorfindel asked, the worry in his voice evident.

"His wounds are healing." Elrond slowly took a sip of his tea before continuing. "Not fast, but they heal, though it will take time until he's well again."

"Is there no possibility of taking him away from here? This is no place for a sick elf!"

Elrond slowly shook his head. "Moving him could prove fatal because of his wounds. There's no way of taking him away until they have healed further." Sighing he moved his hand through his hair. "I don't even want to think about how long we'll have to stay in this godforsaken place until everybody is well enough to make the trip back to their homes."

"At least they still have homes they can return to. Just imagine how things would be now if we had lost."

"I'd rather not," Elrond answered dryly. Thoughtfully he sipped his tea. Glorfindel waited patiently. "About homes…" The half elf continued after some moments of silence. "There's something I wanted to talk to you about."

"Which is?" Glorfindel looked at his friend, waiting for what was to come. The half elf didn't seem to be too well, he looked tired and overworked.

"I won't return to Lindon," Elrond broke to him, waiting for the warrior's reaction.

Glorfindel looked at him, surprised. "And where do you want to go then?"

Elrond smiled slightly, thinking of the beautiful place he had chosen for his new home. "Rivendell."

"Oh. There." Glorfindel had never been to the place, but he had already heard much of the valley, even though it had only recently been built up by the half elf.

"I'd like you to come with me. Of course only if you want to." Pleadingly Elrond looked at his friend. "I'd be very glad to have you at my side."

Glorfindel sat on his chair in silence, looking at the dirty floor. "Rivendell. I heard it's a beautiful place."

"It is," Elrond agreed. "You don't have to stay, of course. You can always leave if you wish so." Elrond shrugged, unsure of what to say further.

Glorfindel nodded slowly. "I'll think about it. We won't go there tomorrow, anyway."

Elrond smiled slightly, draining his cup. "You're always welcome there." Rising he moved towards the table, putting down his cup. "I have to go back to work. There are wounded men waiting for my help."

Glorfindel rose as well, moving towards the entrance of the tent. "Take care of him," he told him, nodding in the direction where Erestor slept. "And Elrond," he called after his friend as Elrond was about to step behind the curtain. "Sleep."

Elrond smiled at him tiredly. "Later. Once I'm finished."

Shaking his head Glorfindel watched as the half elf vanished inside. It wouldn't be long and he'd be one of the elves lying there.