Wishing For Sunny Skies

Chapter 7

There had been a time in his life when Bilbo had fallen into the Brandy-wine river as a tween and somehow had survived. He had hit his head, and had been knocked unconscious for several days and when he had awoken it had been with a pounding head from both the injury and fever. He felt much the same now.

Pulling himself from sleep now was much like that that time. His eyes felt heavy, his mouth dry, and his arms moved as if they were weighted when he lifted one to touch his once again pounding head.

At his groan of pain there was a shuffle off to his side but he couldn't find it in him to care. The bed he was in was so comfortable, and it was a welcome idea to let himself slip back to a painless sleep.

What had happened? His whole body ached much like the days of his membership of Thorins company, and his side burned and itched much like a healing wound.

Eyes shooting open Bilbo gasped remembering what exactly had happened before he lost consciousness. The light of the evening sun may have been dim but it was enough for Biblo to hiss in pain and squeeze his eyes shut trying to stop his shaking and regulate his breathing.

"Seere mallon," a soft voice whispered and Bilbo felt the tension in his shoulders leave as a soft hand touched his forehead dispersing the pinch at his brow. Elves. He was with the elves. Then did that mean?

"Harry," his voice was a horse rasp and he began to cough. Gentle hands guided him into a sitting position and assisted him in slowly drinking some water.

Once he was laying again,and he felt feverish and already exhausted, the voice whispered to him," Harry is fine and well. Many thanks and praise to you for having protected someone so precious."

At that Bilbo allowed himself to fall into another sleep, hoping next time he woke the aches and pains were gone, and there was a smiling green eyed boy by his side.

Elrond finished Bilbos bandages pleased with how the wound was healing, and glad that this time he woke lucid signifying just how much his fever had went down and how well his recovery was going.

The soft patter of feet coming to the door signified Harry, or Calemiron as some would call him, arriving as he did after every evening meal. For his eyes were the most green mysterious color in all of middle earth, and he was a true treasure among their people.

"Lord Elrond," Harrys bell voice rung in the room as he slowed at the door, cheeks red with his jog to the healing rooms, and Elrond turned to see the smile slip off Harrys face when the boy spotted the bandages on the table.

"He is fine young one," Elrond soothed and large green eyes flicked up to his own, smile slowly coming back shyly," I was just changing his bandages. It is necessary the wound breaths, and the bandages are clean so he can fight off any infection."

Harry nodded, and made his way over gracefully as any elfing. Not that elves were not light and quick on their feet as children, mind you, but Elrond could not chase away the large smile that took over his face unwillingly when he noticed how clumsy the boy could be at times. The floor was absolutely smooth and clean and yet he still managed to stumble half way.

"He even woke for a breif moment,' Elrond continued when the boy reached the hobbits side," he asked if you were well."

"Does that mean he is going to be out of bed soon?"again those large green eyes went from Bilbo to Elrond curious and hopeful.

Elrond shook his head," I do believe he has quite some time to be in his bed. Though he is healing fast for a mere halfling."

The last part was murmured, a curious thought the elvin lord was mulling over, but Harry quickly snapped his constant rebuttal to the frequent title,"Hobbit! He isn't half of anything!"

Lord Elrond looked up to the boy who had warmed up to them the past 3 weeks standing stubborn at the other end of Bilbos bed, arms crossed determination radiating from him as he began to puff out his cheeks .

"Yes you are quite right Harry," Elrond smiled and bowed slightly," My mistake. I know all too well of Bilbos great deeds, and surly many of Middle Earth can not do even half the same."

Harry nodded pacified, and looked back down to the Hobbit laying a hand gently onto the curly head stoking the strands watching them bounce from his finger back in place.

"Did you enjoy dinner?"

Nodding Harry begun to talk as Elrond cleaned his work area,"Oh yes very much thank you. Elladan shot a buck on watch and they brought it back in time for the cooks to make it."

"He may say he is the one who felled the buck, but only for it was I who not only spotted it but redirected it into his path,"Elrohir strode into the room a grin across his face and Elrond felt his heart lighten. After what had happened to their mother it was rare for his boys to smile, much less be so light hearted so often. But with the arrival of Harry, who had warmed up to them slowly over the past few weeks and even though he was still shy and still quite at times, he had begun to settle into a routine.

Harry smiled up at Elrohir,"Elladan said that you would be unable to shoot even an already downed buck and it would always be his bow to keep you both fed on travels."

"Oh does he now," Elrohir scooped the boy who giggled and began tickling him mercilessly," and what have I told you about believing my devious twin?"

"B-bu-but," Harry gasped in between peals of bell like laughter," he soun-sounded so c-convincing!"

"Calm you two," admonished Elrond lightly looking to Elrohir no heat behind his stern gaze," this is a healing room and I have a patient that needs his rest." Even as he said this the feverish hobbit did not stir.

Harry silenced right away and Elrohir nodded,"sorry father."

"I hope he can get up soon. I wanted to show him what Elrohir taught me yesterday," Harry was referring to the fact the past few days the twins had agreed to teach him swordplay and other means of self defense. Even though he were young, elves were not unknown for their place on Middle Earth as warriors.

Elrohir tucked the boy to his side, rubbing his face against the black glossy hair that was mostly down besides a small braid hanging down the right side of his face.

"You will. think about it this way-you will be able to teach him quite a few moves once he is up the longer you train," Harry smiled gently up to the twin and nodded humming.

"There you are!"the group looked up to Arwen who was smiling gently as she crossed her arms giving a mock stern look to the emerald eyed boy who ducked out of Elrohirs embrace with a squeak quickly hiding behind Elronds robes.

She walked forward raising a delicate brow," You told me earlier this morning so long as I put off your lessons until later so you could practice the sword with Elladan and Elrohir that you would be sure to finish them. Yet you have managed to dodge me all day."

"But you didn't necessarily specify when later was. Nor did I," Harry peaked around hopeful eyes looking up to the Arwen as she fought a smile from her face.

"I believe," she began giving up fighting off the grin that broke across her face, and she turned sparkling eyes to her father,"That my ada has told me that my brothers said much the same. It makes one wonder if they could perhaps be influencing you in a way that i would find inadvisable. . ." she trailed off turning her eyes to said sibling who grinned scratching the back of his head.

"Lets not be too hard on the young one," he chuckled," after all. He is quite clever. "

"Too clever it would seem," laughed Elrond putting a hand to the small childs head and kneeling down," Go finish your lessons with Arwen, or I fear my daughter may take away all manners of sword play until you are caught up on your own language young one."

Harry sighed but didn't argue, which was much like him in most matters. He gave a nod and made his way over to Arwen, who took his hand with a gentle smile of her own. Harrys disappointing disposition cleared away when Elrond was pretty sure his daughter whispered something about sweets as a reward for her good student and suddenly there was a pep in the young ones step.

They made their way out the door, father and son watching left in deep thought.

"He is amazing,"murmured Elrohir and Elrond didn't have to look to know that there was a wistful look on his sons face.

It was true. The day that Harry had been brought to him, scared and secluded, sobbing for Bilbo to wake up Elrond had been shocked to see the young one.

From that day on they had nurtured and done all in their power to pull Harry out of his shell. And like most young ones his age, he thankfully bounced back and begun to open up to them. He didn't speak of his past, or of any family. He didn't say anything of what had happened other than friends had considered Bilbo a trustworthy caretaker to deliver him to the elves.

It concerned Elrond that Harry didn't wish to share whom exactly had given him to Bilbo. Or to whom had raised him, from what Harry did share it had been 2 separate parties.

And it was the whom had raised him that Elrond was most interested in wiggling out of the young one. As the same with every other elf, surely in all of the last homely house, the Greenwood, and Lothlorien as for a day after he had been brought and Bilbo had been deemed stable, Elrond was sure to send messengers to both kingdoms.

"Good night Ada," his son spoke and Elrond shook from his deep thoughts.

He nodded his head in reply, mind still addled by the questions surrounding the young boy. Leisurely he walked out to the balconies that overlooked the gardens outside the health wing and watched the last rays of light disperse from the horizon and stars to litter the sky.

Closing his eyes he allowed the memory of the boys arrival to fill him mind.

"My Lord Elrond,"the memory of how Lindar came to him, eyes wide and body singing with emotion that he hadn't seen the other display in least a few hundred years. Elrond stood curious as to what could bring on such a display, and for a moment he worried of his sons whom had returned early from their hunt.

Quickly he dismissed the councle gathered with an apology, he knew it must have been urgent had Lindar came to disrupt the meeting they had been having.

Walking with the exceptionally musical elf, Elrond looked to the brunnett who quickly began to speak quietly but with no less enthusiasm.

"My lord Elrond, your sons have returnd unharmed as well as the rest of the hunting party. But they bring with them one injured, Bilbo Baggins, and."

Elrond continued his pace hastened at the news that the great elf friend Bilbo Baggins was injured, but sent an inquiring quirk of his brow to the other elf ast to what could possibly be more unusual than that? Bilbo had seemed so eager to return home, his soul finding little calm in Rivendells halls as it once had. Elronds heart ached for the hobbit, as for he knew the pain of loss.

"He brings with him, uninjured. . . an elfling."

It was as if the world had slowed around Elrond from the impossible news. He had quickly made it to the healing rooms, to where his daughter and several other elves already were gathered some attending to Bilbo, and some-such as his children- were calming a small quivering bundle that refused to stop gripping on to Elladan and he sobbed great heart wrenching sobs begging for Bilbo to stop bleeding and for him to not die. Upon his entrance Glorfindel made his way to where he had been monitoring the child that was with Elronds children and the Hobbit who was being tended to by Bariel and Amathiel.

"The blade was poisoned,"Bariel stated as Elrond pulled his interest to the injured hobbit. No matter how much he wished to console the child, he would never leave a patient-especially a friend such as Bilbo Baggins- unaided," by what I do not know. It seems as if it is eating away at him."

The wound was gruesome. The original strike was clear, a clean cut making it from one side to the other. The depth and placing of the wound normally would not make for such worry with attention, but the fact that the top few layers of skin seemed to have already peeled away and were beginning to pus made Elronds brow crease.

A sob broke out behind him, muffled by his sons shoulder.

"Take him to your rooms," he knew his voice must sound cold, but to be a proper healer he needed to be calm.

"No-no please!," sobbed the stuffy nosed elf and their eyes met. Even red rimmed and puffy this child eyes were extraordinary and soul piercing as he looked to Elrond pleading lip quivering body shaking.

"The healing process is long and difficult child," Elrond spoke evenly," I will do much better in caring for dear Bilbo with as few in the room as possible."

With deep shuddering breaths the boy looked to him one long moment, before glancing to the others in the room and back to him. Slowly, he sniffed and nodded wrapping his arms around Elladands neck when the elf stood.

He had watched them go from the corner of his eye, the boys gaze never leaving him with the hobbit.

For hours he worked on Bilbo with Amathiel and Bariel. The poison was hard to identify, surely one he had not come across ever before, and it was very corrosive eating away at Bilbos flesh, muscle, and right when they found something to fight it it had begun to gnaw away at a bone.

Which was why now it was taking Bilbo so very long to recover from it. The poison thankfully had not made its way to his inner organs, but the damage it had done had sent his whole body into a shutdown mode, and gave him a terrible fever. Elrond felt they were over the brunt of the healing, he was amazed the hobbits wound seemed to recovering so well to such a poison as it were, but he felt that his attention should be focused entirely to the healing of their named elf-friend.

Elrond turned from the dark mountains with a sigh looking to the still figure on the bed, ready for another long night of monitoring.

Harry sat with Arwen in his room, which was spacious an neat with a bed table and dresser all light wood and earthy tones, to where they had taken is studies to as she explained words and rules of the elven language. Her language. His language. His peoples language. It still was a lot to take in even though he had been in Middle earth for several months now.

Gazing out the window to the inky moonless sky he thought about England. About number 4 Privet Drive tucked neatly away with all the other houses, with the Dursleys finally rid of their nuance able to finally go on with their lives without him.

He felt a tug at his heart and a breath catch at his throat. And even though there was a magical fire in his room to heat it, he suddenly felt cold and alone. All anyone had done for him, from the dwarves to Bilbo and now the Elves, was care for and nurture him. To accept him, and become close.

But how long until they knew how truly useless he was? How worthless? How undeserving of his kindness he was? Would he be forced back out into the wilds to fend for himself? Or perhaps shoved down to where there were surely some type of dungeons? He tried so hard at the Dursleys to please them, to have his love returned. It never was.

There was a burning behind his eyes and he blinked them quickly to fight any tears that gathered.

"Harry,"Arwens soft voice lillited concerned suddenly very near his side," is all well child?"

"Ye-"the lie caught in his throat when his eyes met hers and suddenly the tightness in his chest doubled and a knot twisted in his throat. He quickly blinked his eyes but his vision began to swim regardless.

She quickly enveloped him in a hug-the elves had proved to be a very affectionate peoples when it came to him- and smoothed his hair down.

"Tell me what troubles you poikaer?"she said ending with the endearment she often used when he became closed off to the ones around him. Elves were also a very open people with their thoughts and emotions-or at least among their own kind- Harry realized. And he was told it was much easier to live thousands of years doing so.

Trying to be like his people, reminding himself they were his people and he should at least try to open up which was so often asked of him, he took a shuddering breath," I'm sorry. I just. . . you wouldn't ever bore of me-would you Arwen?"

He looked up wide eyes clenching his hands onto the green tunic he had been fitted in. Arwen blinked, obviously a bit surprised by the question.

"Why my dear," she said brows creasing," I would never imagine it. Not in any lifetime. "

"And Elladan and Elrohir? Lord Elrond? Bilbo? Everyone?"His lip began to quiver and a fresh wave of tears gathered in his eyes,"c-cuz I know-" He snapped is jaw shut lip quivering.

"Know only," she said as she gently pushed his chin up so they could make eye contact,"that during the time you have been here, you have made your way into our hearts. Know that there is love, and no matter what the future may hold that is a precious thing. It will never be something we throw aside. Love is precious."

He sniffed and looked to the side, rubbing his nose with the back of the green tunic he wore," I- I just. . . " looking up to her he felt a lump in his throat but swallowed it down with the need to relay his feelings-to say what had been on his mind for the months of travel with the dwarves, with Bilbo, and now with the elves,"Never before have I had anyone else. And now I find myself afraid to loose what I have always wanted."

"And you never will," Arwen pushed away the last of the tears from his soft plump cheeks. He had finally gained some weight and they had lost their hollowed look that came from months of being on the road," we are your family. And that is never going to change."

Despite the fact the tears began to flow more freely, and he was now sobbing openly, Harry could honestly say he had never felt happier in his life.

))_EndChapter_(((((((

Heartspin:So I apologize for the extremely long wait. I am hoping to try to update once a month now that my life has finally begun to settle down a little. I can not even begin to touch on the crazy curve balls life has thrown at me. But I just went down from working 2 jobs for about 70 hours a week to 2 working only about 55 so I have some more time. I will attempt to update more often.

Only a few more chapters of this one to go! Were nearly there!

Let me know what you think! It is because of reviews I updated this story before my other 2(which were scheduled much sooner than this 1 since I like to rotate. )