The minstrel's hands had wrapped around the soundbox of the harp as if it was the only safe place in the world, Elrond noticed. He took a seat on the bench formerly occupied by Melpomaen and gave Lindir a moment or two to relax.

'You know, I am a healer, as well as your friend. I would like to think there is nothing you could say that I cannot in some way help you with. But perhaps that is because I feel responsible, and helping you would ease my guilt…'

'I… would prefer not…'

'I understand. That's why you wrote your account, is it not? So that you would be spared too much retelling? But, Lindir, this is a terrible thing you have endured and so far from home… and there are still questions I would ask. For your own sake, I need to know about your injuries, your recovery.'

'You would not need to… to do this in the healer's wing? To… I do not need to be examined….'

'No, no of course not,' Elrond said hastily, and slid along the bench just a little way so that he was fractionally further from the minstrel. 'It would be much too late, now, to intervene with treatment – unless you are having any specific physiological problems…?'

Lindir shook his head, his eyes wide, frightened.

'Well, then, it would be an unnecessary intrusion, and would only cause you distress, which is the last thing I wish, mellon-nin. But can you tell me, did you have any help? Was anyone able to advise you, to support you?'

'Not… not immediately. But, yes. You remember when the darkness was over us, and bad things walked outside our borders, you had Glorfindel address the hall with a warning about what to do if… if this happened… I remember it so well, and it helped, I do not know how I could have borne it without the knowledge…'

'Yes. At the time, I was uncertain… I had no wish to frighten anyone, but it seems it was the right decision.'

'Glorfindel's advice… I am sure I would have faded, but for him. He watched over me, my lord.' Lindir remembered Glorfindel's admission that he had suffered similarly, remembered also that the seneschal had said it was not common knowledge, and chose his next words with care. 'He and Erestor, they knew by how… how I sat on my horse, what had been done. I think your sons guessed, too, but they allowed Erestor and Glorfindel to care for me that first night, knowing that I was already ashamed and distressed.'

'And your injuries? Had you anything to treat your injuries with?'

'There was a salve Glorfindel had in the medical pack. It was for my neck, my waist… where the leather had chafed, so I used that elsewhere, too. My neck took longer to heal than the other injury…' Lindir lifted the hair from his neck to reveal a small patch of skin that was still scabbed and healing. 'But this is the last of my physical hurts.'

'In this kind of situation, Lindir, often it is the emotional and psychological damage which lingers. Talking will help with that…'

'I do not see how; I have talked, and talked, and…' Lindir broke off, his shoulders sagging. 'I have bad dreams, still.'

'It takes time. This is still very recent for you, and then, to read that you ran into one of the ruffians…'

'It felt worse, somehow, in some ways. I do not know why… but…'

'But you had been helpless, then, and afraid. And so the memory of that came back, and mingled with the other memories, and it set you back, I think?'

'Arwen was very kind,' Lindir said softly. 'She… she helped me feel clean again. Pure, almost. I am grateful to all my friends, but Arwen was so very good to me…'

'She mentioned you in her letter. Now I understand why.'

Perhaps it was time to change the mood for a moment or two.

'She had other news, too.' Elrond smiled, a confiding, proud smile. 'She tells me something wonderful; there will be a child for her.'

'I am very pleased to hear it,' Lindir said, relieved that the attention was off him for the moment. 'I noted that she was, perhaps, rather more affectionate with her brothers than they properly appreciated… and, perhaps it is fair to say, she did mother me, a little. I did not mind it, though.'

Elrond smiled again as he got to his feet, opening one hand wide in invitation.

'Why do you not join me in my sitting room for a last drink?' he said. 'I would like to hear more about the lady in your song.'

'Thank you... but I am a little tired…'

Lindir glanced over his shoulder. In the shadows, Glorfindel was still watching.

Elrond saw, sighed, halted.

'Glorfindel, mellon-nin, would you care to join us?' he said. 'I feel there is more likelihood of Lindir agreeing, if you come too.'

'Lead on, then.' The seneschal left his place and came to join them. 'I could do with a glass of that very good spirits you keep locked away.'

Elrond's sitting room was a small and cosy room well away from the public rooms of the Last Homely House. It had large, overstuffed furniture and a bookcase full of well-thumbed tones, low tables and thick rugs on the stone flags. A sideboard against one wall held glasses and a selection of bottles filled to differing levels with darkly glinting liquids.

'Sit, both of you, get comfortable.'

Elrond filled glasses and passed them around, noticing how his guests were seated, Glorfindel where he could watch the door and Lindir at his side. He chose his own seat with care, so that he was not too near the minstrel.

'I liked your song, Lindir. It is new, obviously.'

'Yes. I am still working on the words.'

'So who is she, this Kovalia?'

'I do not know, not for sure. I think – it seems as if she might be the one who leads the fiefdom. It is her brother who…'

'It is known he wants to prevent her allying with Gondor,' Glorfindel put in. 'Unfortunately, he thought hurting Lindir was the way to go about it.'

'She is a widow – young, for a human, though. And lonely. And she was kind to me… I am not sure if I conveyed quite how kind…'

'You left a strong impression, mellon-nin. You will understand if I make sure she did not coerce you?'

'What? No, she did not! I think she thought I was there for her, but when she saw I was bound, she was horrified. What happened between us… it was I who started matters. She was very generous. And I knew, not all was spoiled for me. It was important to know that I could love, still, in spite of everthying.' He stared down into the depths of the liquid glinting in his glass. 'I mean what I sang, you know. I do love her, even though she is human, and brief, and her brother is cruel.'

'What do you wish to do about her, then?' Elrond asked softly.

'I know that love between humankind and elvenkind is fraught with difficulties… I know it is not wise… but still, I would like to find her again. I would like to thank her, to play for her, perhaps… except that is foolish; she might not want my song, or a reminder of that night.'

'But if she was kind to you and you were kind to her, why would she not?'

Lindir shook his head.

'Aragorn – King Elessar, that is – has agreed to the treaty,' Glorfindel said. 'He took quite a lot of persuading, after everything… but he asked if we wanted to send a delegation… Erestor would be willing, if you asked him, Elrond. He's the only one of us who wasn't in the palace.'

'But was he not captive as well?' Elrond asked.

'True.' Glorfindel grinned briefly. 'They let him go – he wasn't pretty enough.'

'One could almost pity him,' Elrond said. 'Glorfindel, would you like another drink before you leave?'

'Am I leaving?' Glorfindel held out his glass for a refill. 'In that case, I will.'

'I would like a word or two with Lindir in private – if that's all right, mellon-nin?' he finished, turning to Lindir.

The minstrel hesitated for a moment and then nodded. 'Yes, I think so.'

Glorfindel downed the contents of his glass and held it out for another top-up.

'And I will take it with me and trouble you no more tonight, Elrond,' he said. 'I bid you good night.'

'He will not go far,' Elrond said softly as the door closed behind the Balrog-slayer. 'Most likely he will be in the corridor when you leave, or on a bench in the Hall of Fire.'

'He has been a good friend to me. In spite of everything, I now know I have good friends around me,' Lindir said.

'A harsh way to find out who your friends are. Lindir… I owe you an apology. I know it will do no good, not now… but I am sorry. I should never have encouraged you to go. I had hoped you would enjoy a change of scene, would find it interesting, and when I learned how you had been treated…' he broke off, shaking his head. 'I am so sorry, Lindir.'

'It was not your fault, you were not to know. It was nobody's fault, except… except the one who did it. Everyone wants to blame themselves, Glorfindel thought he had failed his watch. Erestor thought if he'd been less sour of face, he would not have been released and so could have helped me… I even thought it might be that I was to blame, at first. But I know differently, now.'

'Good, that's good. It can take some persons a very long time to realise that. It is an important step, Lindir, it is a good start.'

'I feel I am mostly all right, now. Some things are hard, things I did not expect to be hard. To be amongst so many people as are here… I know many have sailed, there are fewer, I think, than when we set out… Loud noises startle me. Beards.' He shuddered. 'And although I am better than I was, I still… I feel uneasy if I think my hair might be touched by strangers…'

'Well, there are no dwarves in Imladris at present, nor do I expect any; I think you are safe from beards.'

Elrond lifted his eyebrows as he smiled, inviting Lindir to share the joke, and was rewarded by Lindir's slow smile back.

'You know, although I want to help,' Elrond went on, 'I realise you might find it awkward to come to me. If that happens, if you need to see one of the other healers, I won't be offended. I noticed you talking to Melpomaen tonight; he is young, true, but he is a good listener, and a very talented healer for one with so little experience.'

'Thank you, my lord. I hope I will not need to trouble any of the healers…'

'You would be no trouble, mellon-nin,' Elrond assured him. 'Now, you mentioned disturbed sleep patterns. I can get you a draught that will help you sleep?'

Lindir shook his head.

'I am grateful, Elrond, but it is troubled dreams I have. The thought that I might not be able to wake from them… I would prefer not to risk that.'

'I understand. Well, I will let you seek your bed, now; it is getting late. There will be a beautiful moon to look at over the valley, if you cannot sleep. And remember – if you need anything, you may send to me.'

Lindir nodded and set down his glass; the spirits within had hardly been touched, Elrond noticed; if anything, that was a good sign, perhaps.

'Come.' He ushered Lindir to the door, holding it open for him and following him out. There, sitting on the floor leaning against the wall, the outrageous blue hat tipped over his eyes, Glorfindel was taking his ease. 'What did I tell you? Glorfindel, stir yourself!'

Glorfindel stretched and levered himself to his feet.

'Do you know, I'm not sure I can find my way back to my chambers… think you can remember, Lindir?'

'I'm sure I can. This way, I think.'

Elrond watched them go, the old war horse of a seneschal and the younger, presently fragile minstrel. An unlikely friendship, but if anyone could keep Lindir from despair, he thought, it would be Glorfindel.