The swirling zephyr sifted the sandalwood trees, caressing the slick surface of the leaves. It sumptuously ambled over the neighboring wisteria vines, selfishly coveting the scents of buxom flowers. It skirted south over the silken sand bending to brush the burnished surface of the Anduin waters that were painted in the passionate shades of the sinking sun. The zephyr kissed the mist droplets suspended above the meandering river that flowed sinuously southward. It spied the majestic crowns of the Mallorn trees framing the riverbank and suddenly coveted their long pale green leaves. Crossing into Lothlórien the breeze slowed to lick the top of the Mallorn leaves and savor the velvet texture of their silver undersides. The zephyr stroked the smooth silvered trunks and swirled among their interwoven branches. The breeze sighed completely fulfilled by these simple sensual pleasures, its original purpose and destination long forgotten. The sun rose and fell and rose again, not distracting the wind from its amorous pursuits. The sky grew dark as night fell again.
The wind was drawn like a moth to a flame into a clearing that was lit by a golden glow. Its way to the light was blocked by two dark-haired beings whose sorrow was easily transmitted to the surrounding atmosphere. These large beings altered the wind's path creating an eddy as the wind whirled about, playing with their long silken locks. Tears fell from the silver eyes of the star maiden nearby, and the breeze kissed the tears away. Next to her a golden haired beauty held the hand of a tall silver Lord. They stood singing and calling to someone. Intrigued, the wind studied them weaving around the circle of five beautiful beings until it perceived the glowing form of a golden elf standing in the center. The spirit on the wind was drawn ever closer to the bright beacon in the center.
"Elrond, Mellon-nin." Whispered the golden one in the circle's center. "Come back to us." Tears slide down the elf's cheeks and he opened his arms wide. The breeze swirled about his golden hair and drew on the light of Aman that was emitted from deep within his being. A connection, perhaps Valar blessed, sparked between them. He felt the bright soul of Glorfindel, his friend of five millennia and recognized the love flowing into him from his children and their grandparents. Their love drew him back into this world. The breeze now an iridescent shimmer of blue kissed their faces and slowly turned to settle into the outstretched the arms of his Seneschal, gradually solidifying into the shape of the beloved Peredhel.
Glorfindel wrapped the slim figure in a cloak. He pulled Elrond close to him, wishing to shelter him. He engulfed the still figure in a gentle embrace and sent a prayer of thanks to the One. A feeling of joy swelled in all of them at the confirmation that Elrond was alive, that his unique spirit was returned to them. Elrond's eyes were closed and his lips curled in a contented smile.
"Slowly." Glorfindel's soothing voice floated through him. "It takes time to reconnect the spirit and the body, my gentle breeze. Believe me, I was rehoused."
Galadriel bent down over them and peered under the blanket to check the spots where her son-in-law had been wounded. Most of the wounds were healed and were now marked only by pale pink skin, except for the wound on his shoulder, which was weeping slowly.
Glorfindel carefully lifted Elrond, who seemed as light as an elfling. Slowly the seven of them returned to the flet. They gently laid Elrond on the bed. Galadriel retrieve some healing supplies. Gently they unwrapped the cloak covering Elrond. He was still far too pale, but the ashen grey sheen of the poison was gone. Red blotches dotted his left arm, but most of the wounds had healed well. Only the shoulder wound was still raw. They treated it, bathing it with water and oil infusions, and packed healing herbs against it before bandaging it. Elrond did not stir. Elladan brought soft clothes and they gently eased them around the sleeping figure. Finally, they covered him with the warm blanket.
Arwen and her brothers could not stop themselves from gently touching their father's hands. They took turns to brush his forehead and kiss his cheeks. Against all odds he had been returned to them.
Glorfindel settled unobtrusively in the corner, ever the Seneschal, content to silently guard his charges. Galadriel stood near the head of the bed, behind her seated Grandsons and assessed the condition of Elrond's spirit. She heard the jumbled melodies of his song even through his deep slumber. She recognized the danger of losing him to the seductive wind. Looking up she met Glorfindel's eyes and smiled reassuringly.
"Keep him safe and bound to us this night." She said directly into seneschal's mind.
"As always my Lady." The seneschal returned wordlessly.
Celeborn was standing behind Arwen, gently comforting her. "Do not worry, my Evenstar, the greatest danger has past. Your Ada will be well given rest and our care." Arwen twisted to embrace her Grandfather. Her uncontrolled tears wet the shoulder of his robes. Galadriel eased past her grandsons adding her embrace to Celeborn's to comfort her Undómiel.
"Let him rest. We all need rest too." She wisely advised. "Goodnight my dear ones." She kissed her three grandchildren. Then Galadriel and Celeborn led Arwen from the room. The twins departed briefly to wash and change, leaving their father under Glorfindel's watchful eyes.
The Golden Warrior concentrated on his bond to his dear friend. His heart stirred with joy when he felt images and feelings pour into him through the bond. Elrond was sharing some of his experiences as wind, no words to thwart the communication. The images were breathtakingly beautiful. He noted that Elrond's spirit was the jumble of dissonant melodies that lacked its usual binding theme. It immediately concerned him. Glorfindel opened his own mind to share memories that would remind him of the wonders of elven life and love. These memories would ground him in the corporal world.
Glorfindel's memories washed over Elrond. "You love him, Glorfindel." Came Celebrian's voice. "Why do you not tell him?" She asked.
"I love him dearly." He said truthfully. "He is the brother of my heart. I would do all that is within my power to keep him from harm. He has suffered too much already." Glorfindel replied. "I love him too. I want to spend my life with him." Celebrian replied in earnest. "Are you strong enough? Do you understand all it entails?" Glorfindel asked, pausing to study the elleth before him. A very young Celebrian looked curiously back at him. "As Peredhel the choice will lie before any children you have together. Would your love turn to hate should any or all your children chose the fate of his brother, Elros, should they chose to become Edain? If he shares his heart fully with you, he will not survive your love turning to scorn." Celebrian looked up at him, her eyes filled with love and determination mixed with tears. "Glorfindel, should the One bless our union with children, it will be our joy and honor to love and guide them into the majority and beyond. It will be our joy to treasure them for as long as we are blessed with their company. But we cannot imprison them. Their lives and choices are their own, even if they all chose they way of Lúthien." Love beamed through her eyes. The memory changed. A fragile Celebrian looked up at Glorfindel. "Please," she pleaded. "Take care of him in my place." "We both love him. I think the Valar bless you with this brotherhood to strengthen you both. It is we, weak wives, who have both abandon you both." "Never weak Celebrian." "I fear for Elrond. In my dreams he never arrives in the Blessed Realm. He becomes a part of Arda, a houseless spirit on the wind, remembering naught of what once was." Tears leaked from her eyes.
"I will bring him to the blessed Realm, I promise. We both love him." Glorfindel solemnly promised.
He rejoiced as he felt the song of Elrond's spirit grow stronger, and he guided him towards some of his most joyful cherished memories. They were memories of their laughter, of picnic with the children, of song and celebrations in the Halls of Imladris. Both Glorfindel and Elrond drifted off into a restful slumber, contented by the blissful recollections. The dark haired elf lay asleep on the bed. The golden one resting comfortable on the chair nearby with one hand gently and protectively resting on the dark one's arm. The twins entered the room silently. Elladan checked his father and upon finding him deep in healing sleep settled down next to him on the bed. Elrohir curled up to sleep on the couch. Both loathed the idea of leaving their father even for a short while.
Xxxxxxxxx
Soft voices recalled Glorfindel from his dreams and he opened his eyes, releasing a sigh of contentment.
"Ah, Glorfindel, you are awake." Elohir's voice rang clear in the morning air. "I will get us breakfast while Elladan stays with Ada." Glorfindel blinked away the fatigue and rose slowly. "Enjoy a bath and get dressed."
Glorfindel turned to study Elrond and noted that he was now in a light healing sleep. His heart sped up at the thought of Elrond waking soon. He resolved to bath and dress quickly. He was braiding his hair when he heard the twins knocked and called to him.
"Come to Ada's flet. We have breakfast ready." Elrohir announced with his old enthusiastic air.
When Glorfindel finally emerged again into the flet, he found both twins bending over their father and holding his hands carefully as if they feared he might disappear yet again. Upon Glorfindel's entrance, Elladan stood, quickly closed the distance between them, and embraced him with a warm hug.
"Thank you for guiding him back." Elladan said, his voice shaking in an effort to mask his tears. " I feared he would be lost to us." Elrohir joined their hug, expressing his gratitude as well.
"You all helped as well." Glorfindel chided. "Truly, I have always thought of Elrond as my brother. You children I have loved as part of my own family."
"You have always been a special part of our family, Glor." Elrohir said, his eyes smiling with mischief. "Daernaneth said that in bringing Ada back, your spirits bonded as true brothers!" Both sets of identical grey eyes pierced Glorfindel. "Welcome to the family, Uncle Glor!"
Glorfindel smiled, he could not hide his joy at feeling the strong bond between himself and Elrond. The twins smiled and hugged him tightly. Elrond seemed to stir slightly but did not wake.
"Come Glor. You must be hungry. I managed to keep a few bites out of Elladan's big maw." Elrohir laughed and Elladan punched his shoulder playfully. In truth they had brought enough breakfast for eight or ten elves, and Glorfindel looked questioningly at them.
"Do not worry others will soon be joining us." Elladan laughed and they were soon drinking tea and enjoying breakfast together.
"Ada!" Elrohir cried when he noticed the grey eyes open. A small smile played on his father's pale face.
"It is good to see you, my sons." Their father's gentle voice floated into their minds, though the thin lips had never moved. In fact, the only obvious movement was a slow blink of his eyes and the steady rise and fall of his chest. They were at his side in an instant. Elrohir hugged his father first then propped a pillow behind him to raise his head slightly.
"Can you grip my hand?" Elladan asked puzzled at how limp his father appeared. Elrond did not have control over his limbs and all he could was frown slightly as he concentrated at trying to feel his fingers.
"No, I'm sorry." Came his thoughts again into their heads.
"Worry not Elrond, it takes time to readjust." Said Glorfindel reassuringly.
"Thank you for guiding me back, Golden One." Thought Elrond. "Galadriel comes."
"Yes, I do!" she laughed as she and Celeborn entered the room with Arwen close behind them. The twins graciously relinquished their places beside their father, and Arwen and Galadriel replaced them. Arwen kissed her father and slowly began to massage his right hand and fingers.
"It will take a little time, Elrond. But you should be up and around in time for the Council next week." She smiled. Celeborn handed her a small cup with a warm, foul smelling liquid. Arwen gently lifted Elrond's head as Galadriel helped him take a sip and massaged his throat to make him swallow.
"What is this?" Elrond wondered wordlessly.
"Mithrandir assured me it would help you reacclimatize." She said. He could already feel warmth spreading through him accompanied by a pleasant tingling sensation. Soon he was able to swallow on his own, his tongue pleasantly warmed by the tea, though oddly, he couldn't taste it.
"I don't think you actually want to taste or smell it." Arwen laughed, easily reading her fathers thoughts. "It definitely smells more vile than anything you have ever brewed." Elrond looked up at her, raising his eyebrow in question.
"You moved your eyebrow!" Elladan gasped. "I guess that draught must be working." Elrond's eyes twinkled, his face suddenly able to express his jolly mood. His heart filled with happiness at being alive and being near to so many he so dearly loved.
"Hello elfling!" Teased Mithrandir, entering the scene. "You gave us all quite a shock. It is good to see you alive and in solid form for a change." Elrond felt Mithrandir take his left hand and Vilya stir at the presence of its sisters. A short burst of energy traveled between their hands gently rolling through Elrond, who closed his eyes and released an audible sigh.
"Thank you " Elrond's voice a mere whisper tone.
"You spoke out loud!" Arwen rejoiced.
"Give him time." Mithrandir said slowly." He will recover fully."
"We have to fatten you up!" The twins rejoiced. "You are but skin and bones."
Celeborn smiled at their antics. "Go fetch a simple broth and some bread for your father." He ordered swatting the twins away.