Healing

It seemed that every time Elrond though that he was through with cleaning the tears in Elladan back and chest, he found more. Most of them were infected, though Elrond believed the infections were caused more by the dirt in the wounds than from the wolves.

Elrond was at a loss to explain how Elladan had escaped from more severe complications, like rabies or other infections passed on by the wolves. Nonetheless, he did not question fate and continued his work, silently thanking the Valar for their mercies.

Elladan remained mostly motionless through it all. At times his lips would move in silent words, but he spoke aloud no more. He showed no recognition of Elrond or Asfaloth, though he still seemed to think the horse was Tinnuroch.

Finally the wounds were packed with more athelas and bound tightly with bandages. Elladan's skin was colder than Elrond liked, though Asfaloth had helped warm him up. Exhausted from searching for infections and from his worry-filled journey, Elrond curled up on Elladan's other side and fell asleep, one hand resting on Elladan's chest to monitor his heartbeat.

The next morning, Elrond woke to the feeling of Asfaloth's nose nudging his forehead. Starting awake, he glanced over at Elladan, who seemed to be waking. Underneath his eyelids, Elrond could see the eyeballs roving back and forth, and Elladan's breathing had sped up slightly. His lips continued to move, but they were barely parted since they were so dry.

Taking the bowl with the athelas leaves still sitting in it, he carefully dripped some into Elladan's mouth, and was rewarded by the the sight of the tip of Elladan's tongue flicking out to lick his lips.

'Come on, Elladan, it is time you woke up,' he coaxed while placing his fingers against his son's neck to feel his pulse rate. It beat strongly.

Moving his hand up to Elladan's forehead, he took in the heat of the damp skin with a frown. Even with all his careful ministrations, fever had set in, and he had very few supplies to help fight against it. He would have to get Elladan stronger so that Elladan could fight it without the help of so many herbs.

He tipped more water onto Elladan's parted lips and smiled when Elladan's eyes opened halfway.

Grimacing at the sudden light and at the pain of his wounds, Elladan hurriedly shut his eyes again. Elrond, seeing what part of the problem was, positioned himself so that he was blocking the sun. 'Wake up, Elladan. I am here... I have come for you.'

Again Elladan's eyes flew open, wide and hopeful. Now that his tongue was not so parched, he could speak. Hesitantly, he opened his mouth. 'A-adar?'

'Yes, Elladan,' Elrond whispered. 'I have come to take you home.'

Elladan's grey eyes filled brimful with crystal-like tears, but they did not spill over. Gingerly, he raised one hand and clasped Elrond's with a strength that belied his apparent inability to take care of himself for the moment. 'Imladris?'

Elrond nodded, his own eyes beginning to fill. 'Forgive me, ion nin,' he murmured. 'It was so wrong of me to send you away like that. Imladris will always be your home.'

A single tear spilled over and made its way down Elladan's cheek. 'I drove you to it,' he rasped. 'It is I who needs f-forgiveness.' At the last word, Elladan's breath left him as his emotions came crashing down and he rolled onto his uninjured side, ignoring the pain as he sobbed brokenheartedly into his arm.

Elrond, for the moment forgetting Elladan's condition, pulled his son into his lap and held him closely as he cried. His own tears were falling freely by this time, but he paid them no heed. He had found Elladan, and his son was safe, and all would be well.

Above them, Asfaloth stood protectively, keeping an eye out for any that might harm his master's charges.

At last, both Elves' tears dried and Elladan began to doze off in the comfort of his father's arms. Elrond stared off into the distance, absentmindedly running his fingers soothingly through Elladan's hair. 'Sidth, Elladan, il innas na mae.'

As more time passed, Elrond laid Elladan back down on the cloak serving as protection against the damp ground. Carefully, he unwrapped the bandages covering the young Elf's back and checked the abrasions. The athelas was doing its job well, he determined, since the infection was already losing the fight.

Again he felt Elladan's forehead. The fever, while it had gone down some, was still higher than he liked. Inwardly cursing his lack of supplies, he gathered bits of wood from under the trees and quickly built a small fire.

After rummaging around in one of the saddlebags, he pulled out a tin cup and in this he heated water. While he was waiting for the water to boil, he went up to a nearby willow tree and placed his hand against the smooth bark.

I have come to beg a favour of you, he began silently.

The tree creaked in reply. What would you wish of me, young one?

My son is ill, Elrond explained. I was wondering if you would allow me some of your bark to make a healing tea?

The tree straightened slightly. I have been watching him since the attack, it groaned. Greatly did I regret my inability to go to his assistance. Take some bark, good father, and return to your child.

Thank you, my friend. Hurriedly, Elrond took his knife and cut four pieces of bark from the tree trunk. Placing his hand on his heart in Elven-fashion, he then turned and made his way down the steep embankment to Elladan and Asfaloth.

Upon returning, he saw that the water was hot and immediately he dropped a piece of the bark into the cup, holding it under with his dagger point until the wood was softened and at the point of breaking into pieces. Fishing it out, he set the cup aside to cool slightly, and instead pulled Elladan into his lap, trying to avoid pulling on his healing back and chest as much as possible. Still, Elladan was only sleeping and not unconscious, so he moaned as the pain penetrated his dreams.

'I am sorry, Elladan,' Elrond murmured, kissing his son's brow. 'I have something for you to drink. Will you wake up?'

Elladan's pain-filled eyes flickered open, and again he inspected Elrond's face, as though he were not quite sure it really was his father.

Elrond smiled at his expression, then took the cup in one hand. 'How do you feel?' he asked as he tested the temperature with his finger.

'Hurts,' Elladan gasped hoarsely.

'I am sorry,' Elrond said a second time, guilt rising up in him again, then brought the cup to Elladan's lips. 'This will help with both the pain and the fever.'

Elladan obediently drank it, still grimacing at the bitter, slightly woody taste. Suddenly he jerked his head up, spilling some of the tea over the rim and onto his father's hand. Frantically he darted his eyes around, as though he were looking for something.

'What is it, Elladan?' Elrond asked, watching as Asfaloth rose to his feet protectively.

'The wolf!' Elladan managed. 'He ran off, but he will return for me!'

'Asfaloth and I will never allow him to come near you,' Elrond consoled, knowing that Elladan probably wasn't thinking completely clearly. 'In which direction did he go in?'

Elladan nodded towards the south, never once relaxing his taut muscles. Memories flooded back to him, and he started to stutter. 'The p-patrol went af-after him, but he was s-swift. They may not g-get him, and he w-will find me!'

'Elladan,' Elrond said firmly. 'The patrol will not give up the search. They know that wolves have been tormenting the edain villages, and they have been told to slay any they come across. They will not let the wolf get away.'

The young lord moaned slightly as his quick, uneven breathing caused the bandages to rub uncomfortably against his body. Fighting to calm himself down, he tried to match his breathing with his father's.

'He will not get you,' Elrond said again, patiently bringing the cup back to Elladan's lips. 'Just a little more, ion nín, and then you can rest again.'

Slowly Elladan drained the rest of the tea and Elrond set the cup down again. Elladan was again drifting off when suddenly he lurched forward and the tea was expelled again from his stomach as his father looked on in distress.

Elladan's whole body shook from the force of the fever, and his face was flushed and sweaty. His hands were cold and clammy though his forehead was hot to the touch. 'Ada...' he muttered once his head had slowed from its dizzying spin. 'I am so sorry...'

'Shh,' Elrond soothed, gathering Elladan's hair back and swiftly weaving it into a thick braid. 'Perhaps I was too hasty in giving you anything other than water. Your body needed more time to recover.'

Asfaloth was still standing guard, somehow sensing the younger Elf's fear and Elrond's current inability to serve as protector. Suddenly he let forth a warning nicker and reached down to nudge Elrond's shoulder.

'What is it, Asfaloth?' Elrond asked, glancing up from where he bent over Elladan. He glanced around until his gaze came to fall on the seven Elves standing just under the shadows of the surrounding trees. With an elated cry, he rose to his feet, mindful of the sick Elf at his feet.

The leader of the patrol, having gained the attention of Elrond, stepped forward and bowed. 'Lord Elrond, what happened?' His eyes flickered to the wolf carcasses and Elladan, then back. 'Wolves? But how? When?'

Elrond shook his head. 'It was before you arrived in this area. Elladan and I... had a disagreement and he ended up alone, facing several of the brutes. He managed to kill all of them except the leader, who ran off, hoping to draw you away from his dead companions and Elladan, who he had managed to bring down.'

The warrior paled. 'We did not see him, and we passed within sight of the dell.'

Elrond shook his head. 'It matters little.' He glanced at the position of the sun shining through the trees. 'I found him a little over a day ago. He has been badly mauled and is running quite a fever, but he is not in danger.'

The warrior stepped down the embankment, the better to see the sleeping Elf. 'Is there anything we can do? Our healing supplies are at your service, Lord Elrond.'

Elrond smiled, relieved. 'Thank you. I admit that I brought few, not expecting to find myself in such a situation. Any extras would be much appreciated.'

The captain nodded his head and beckoned to one of his companions. 'Is there anything else you might need?'

Elrond shook his head. 'I am in your debt as it is, mellon nín. Now that we have enough healing supplies, I can take him back to Imladris safely.'

The warrior nodded, then hesitated. 'At least take one of the men along to ensure your safety on the journey, I beg of you. It will be difficult to defend yourselves with just you and Captain Glorfindel's horse.'

Elrond smiled when he saw the Elf's slightly surprised expression. 'Glorfindel insisted I take Asfaloth, and I will be eternally grateful that I did. We needed all the haste we could get. And as to the idea of the warrior, that would be a wise idea. Thank you.'

Later on, it was decided that Taurnil, one of the main archers in the group, would return to Imladris with the two lords, while the rest of the group would continue on with the patrol.

Unbeknownst to Elrond and the patrol, Elladan was stirring as they spoke. He woke to find himself alone, except for the presence of a horse. 'Asfaloth?' he whispered.

The great horse bowed his head and nuzzled Elladan's chest gently.

'Was it a dream?' the Elf continued. 'Is Adar not here?' From his position, he could not see the rest of the Elves as they took care of the dead wolves, and Asfaloth's body blocked the sight of Elrond and the captain of the patrol.

Suddenly a strange sensation came over him. His head went fuzzy and his tongue began to feel thick in his mouth as his vision darkened. But right before he fell unconscious, he saw a huge creature rise up at the edge of the lip ahead of him: a great wolf.

TBC...

Elvish Translation

Sidth,il innas na mae – Peace, all will be well.

A/N: I am really sorry for the cliffie again, but I can find no other way to end the chapter. It either has a bad ending, or it goes on forever. Anyways, I will have plenty of time to write on chapter seven this evening, so hopefully I won't take so long to post tomorrow!

This chapter is dedicated to my two reviewers, LadyLindariel and FantasyFan101 – you're the best!