"Uncle Glorfy! Uncle Glorfy!"
"Eärendil, you can not come in until the meeting is over." Tuor sighed. Never mind trying to explain to the child that Lord Glorfindel was not his Uncle. "Have you escaped from your Naneth?"
"Naneth here." A guilty look passed over the child's face momentarily before he pulled on the golden warrior's leg. "Up! Up! Up!"
"Thank goodness our King was not here today." Glorfindel snickered softly as he bent to lift the toddler up. Shrieks of delight caused the elves in the vicinity to cringe. Downy wisps of golden hair finally covered the two year old's head.
"Fly birdy!" Eärendil held his arms out wide.
"It looks like he will inherit his Naneth's hair coloring." Glorfindel predicted.
"That is not yet certain. For children of men, both eye color and hair color often evolve during childhood. Eye color is usually set by the time they reach the first birthday, but hair color can darken through childhood." Tuor laughed at Glorfindel's astonishment.
"Eärendil, where are you?" A melodious but exasperated voice called from the distance.
"Fly Papa!" Exclaimed the child as he reached for his Adar.
"Papa is not going to keep you safe this time." Tuor tried to put on a solemn face.
"Glorfy!" The child's voice suddenly deepened.
Glorfindel opened his eyes in confusion. Above him the silver undersides of the Mallorn leaves glistened in the soft glow of the torchlight. "Galadriel's meadow." His mind supplied as he turned to assess the restless sleeper nearby. Elrond's eyes were closed and his brow was furled in pain. Glorfindel's heart ached to relieve some of the Peredhel's burden. An ancient soothing lullaby sprang automatically from his lips as he gently caressed the silken hair. A soft swish of robes across the grass caused him to look up.
"A draught to keep the pain and memories at bay." The white lady's voice was rich and succinct. She was a distant cousin of his, but her astute eyes seemed to detect the guilt and conflict in his soul.
"My daughter would approve." Her smile was like a rush of water washing his soul clean. White cloth and golden hair floated down as she knelt next to them. He instinctively slid his arms under Elrond's head and torso, carefully avoiding putting pressure on the bandages that protected the healing ribs and the abused shoulder. He lifted the limp figure toward a sitting position.
"Drink ion-nin." The feminine voice commanded as a crystal goblet met the parched lips. Lids opened to expose blank silver eyes caught in the Lady's power. Glorfindel counted each swallow until the deceivingly delicate hand moved the goblet from his friend's lips. "Sleep now." The command seemed to swirl around him too as Elrond eye's closed once again. The dark head turned into a golden embrace. Cool lithe hands helped them settle back against the Mallorn as Glorfindel resumed the soft lullaby.
"His spirit is battered and vulnerable, suddenly lost and isolated."
"Celebrian feared." Glorfindel struggled with an explanation, but at Galadriel's smile of understanding he continued humming the lullaby.
"He has ever had to swim against the current. He only ever shared his burdens with my daughter. Now she is gone. What a relief it must have been to experience total acceptance, to be carried along as an intricate part of a whole. If Celebrian foresaw this, then there is little wonder that she feared." She leaned in to anoint her cousin's golden head with a kiss. "She was wiser than I, in finding you. Sleep brave warrior. Elrond will rely on your strength and care in these next weeks."
"He shall ever have my strength." He whispered as his eyes closed. "And my heart."
Glorfindel awoke to movement from the soft head that was settled on his chest. Dawn light filtered down through silver leaves. The breeze carried the fresh smell of wildflowers. The song of the Mallorn greeted the elves snuggled at its base. He smiled as Elrond stretched in his sleep, still unaware. The actions made the blanket slip off them slightly. The peredhel shivered as the cool air invaded his snug cocoon. He opened his eyes and blinked dazedly trying to focus on the small clusters of golden flowers that adorned the Mallorn. The wind swirled around them, as if trying to entice and enchant. Glorfindel bent his thoughts to his yet weary friend. He could perceive the low murmur of alien words in his friend's mind. "Never lonely, joint and complete, loving part of a whole" rang the enticing words. Glorfindel shivered at the sinister undertone of possession. An image sprang to mind of the wind ripping Elrond away. "You belong to us!" But in the same moment came Elrond's steady tenor, independent and self-assured.
"Could you bless us with some flowers?" The playfully request evoked a joyous response. Glorfindel could feel the wind's laughter as it answered Elrond's call. Flowers floated down to settle about their hair.
"Is that a condoned use of the such an heirloom?" Glorfindel laughed to hide his own alarm at this new dimension in the relationship between the bearer and the wind. Elrond turned in shock at finding his pillow had actually been the golden warrior's chest.
"Forgive my liberties." The peredhel muttered. His face blushed in embarrassment as he quickly tried to rise. A muttered oath of pain followed as Elrond fell back against Glorfindel. Gentle hands were quick to offer comfort.
"There is nothing to forgive. Let go of your pride. You have given so much of yourself to help others. Surely, you can be allowed something in return. Let me help you. It will be days until you regain your equilibrium and many weeks until your shoulder heals. There is no need to hide your injuries."
Glorfindel carefully drew them both to sit against the Mallorn's sympathetic trunk. He gave Elrond a chaste kiss on the head. "We have a slight reprieve before your children arrive to pamper you."
He tipped Elrond's head to look deeply into the silver eyes. Pain and melancholy were written there. Melancholy seemed a puzzling emotion considering all Elrond had been through.
"You look much better. Your color has returned. Truly, how do you feel?"
"Small." Elrond flinched as he flexed his good hand. The forlorn tone of voice startled Glorfindel. Dark silken strands stirred in the zephyr. Although Glorfindel could no longer hear its siren song, he knew that the wind still wove its seductive appeals.
"I, for one, am overjoyed to have you back." Glorfindel focused his spirit towards the precious dark-haired elf. He felt the elf tremble. The wind curled around them as if it were battling for the elf in his arms. He remembered Galadriel's words. Perhaps candor was the best approach. "I doubt anyone can understand what you have experienced in flying with the wind, it must have been incredible. "
"I have never heard the Ainulindalë, the Great Music of the Ainur so clearly before." Elrond divulged the dangerous desire. "The melodies are so entwined – all encompassing." Elrond closed his eyes as his soul yearned to give itself over to the wind's call. Glorfindel's eyes widened with understanding.
"Do not keep these feelings hidden." Glorfindel gently coaxed. "To be engulfed in something greater. It must seem a deafening loss. But your melody is still part of a greater whole, even though you are of solid flesh and bone again. "
"Too quiet. Isolated."
"You were wrapped in the symphony. Aye, Elrond I know it is beautiful and bewitching. But you would be lost were you to give into it again. We almost lost you." Glorfindel swallowed thickly as he ran his fingers through the quiet peredhel's hair. "There are other ways to connect with others. It is different but no less lovely than being part of the wind. Celebrian would miss you. Your children would miss you. I would miss you." He pulled Elrond so close to the Mallorn's trunk that they were now touching it. Then Glorfindel closed his eyes and focused on his connection to Elrond. He felt vulnerable sharing the song of his fëa with Elrond. But his fears were unfounded. Tears of joy and wonder flowed down the beloved features.
"Your song is no less wondrous. Do not let it slip away as wind." Glorfindel whispered soothing words, gently rubbing the half-elf's back as the beloved figure finally released all the built up fear, pain, anxiety, hope, and longing of these last days. His soul thus spent, Elrond dozed in Glorfindel's protective embrace. The dawn blossomed shyly into morning. Glorfindel's stomach grumbled as he heard the twins approach. They were carrying a basket and pack.
"Good morning Glorfindel. How is Adar?" Elrohir knelt and helped ease his sleeping father on to the blanket.
"His shoulder pains him. The wind battles for his attention." As if in response, a blustery breeze rustled the leaves. Glorfindel told of the things he had observed. Elrohir carefully unfastened the tunic, exposing the shoulder bandages. The area surrounding the wound was swollen and tender but thankfully not infected. Elrohir bathed the area with fresh herb and oil infusion then began to weave a healing song. Female voices joined in. Glorfindel looked up into the concerned faces of Arwen and Galadriel. He added his voice to the song.
"Why is there not more healing?" Elladan worried as he braced the arm securely in a sling. The bone had sustained damage, and he would not risk dislodging a splinter or fragment.
"Fear not, he is healing well." Their Grandmother stated reassuringly. "The injuries were severe. His back is nearly mended. There is more healing here than I would have expected. Perhaps you and Elladan need some remedial training to properly gauge the healing process. As I recall it is usually your Adar or Arwen who minister to your injuries."
"And who must endure your endless complaints." Their Grandfather teased as he smiled warmly at their waking patient. "Good morning Elrond." Confusion swirled in the silver eyes before they brightened and returned the greeting.
"Good morning. It seems I am at a disadvantage. I apologize for rising so late." Elrohir and Glorfindel helped him to sit up and scooted over slightly. A smile of relief graced his face as he leaned against the Mallorn's sturdy trunk. He moved his right hand over the bandages that covered his damaged shoulder. They could sense his pain and dismay over the injury. "Do you need to check it?"
"I changed the bandages already Adar. Outwardly, it looks like it is healing well. But it will take some time for the ligaments to knit together." Elrohir infused hope and optimism into his voice. A distraction was needed. He gently guided his father's hand away from the wound as took the seat on his father's right. He playfully pulled at his father's fingers.
"You will need to wait until it heals properly before you can begin to exercise your hand, arm, and shoulder." Arwen smiled mischievously at her Adar's raised brow. As a Master Healer, he was well aware of the healing process. "Then, I think you should join our sewing circle. Healer's orders! It would be the perfect exercise to rebuild your strength and dexterity." Elladan puffed up his chest and spoke in falsetto.
"Lord Elrond, mighty with the needle and thread."
"I am sure you will be the talk of Greenwood." Elrohir finished for his brother, who could no longer hold back his laughter. Arwen had unfolded a small table in front of her father and began to spread out an enticing breakfast complete with strawberries and a new type of fruit that Mithrandir had discovered in one of his recent southern sojourns. Some of the Lothlórien farmers were trying to cultivate it in a green house. She smiled as she noticed that she had captured her Adar's full attention. Thoughts of earlier times, when he had first encountered this fruit, swirled in his mind. It was a heady experience to suddenly have the power to read someone's mind, especially someone as usually inscrutable like her Adar. She did not recognize her father's companions from long ago. It was such a temptation to take advantage and delve further. Little wonder that her Grandparents were carefully protecting him. Making a conscious decision to respect her Adar's privacy, Arwen focused on the fruit before her.
"Is that pitaya?" Elrond was intrigued.
"Mithrandir called it dragon fruit." Elrohir laughed as he conveyed the wizard's story.
"Have you tried it before?" Arwen smiled knowingly as she sampled a piece. "Delicious! Daernaneth, perhaps I can take some seeds to grow in Imladris."
"It is fruit from a climbing cactus and needs a very warm climate." Elrond tried to extract his good hand from his sons grasp. The other hand was useless as it was immobilized in the sling.
"I might be convinced to share with you Adar." Elrohir teased.
"You will need to agree to their demands before you sample any of the succulent fruit." Glorfindel warned as he nabbed a ripe strawberry and ate it dramatically. Galadriel and Celeborn watched with amusement as Elrond agreed to submit to Arwen washing and braiding his hair before he received a few bites of pitaya fruit and a strawberry.
"What other liberties will they negotiate?" Glorfindel whispered to the Lord and Lady.
"Let us leave them to their own devices. They are certainly an effective distraction."