MC Insanity Meets Middle-earth
Tragically Star-Crossed
Trelan was in a rather nice mood today, even if he had been sent to find one of the girls. They were actually not too bad, mostly. Amusing, more often than not. Especially how that one odd girl -the one with the light, curly hair- could really nark Raniean, fluster him right out of his usual stoicism.
Chuckling to himself over the latest incident (who let Eltara anywhere near the tannin and why did he get the feeling "moon" wasn't something innocuous?), he incongruously wondered if it might be a good idea to keep Raniean away from the girl for the sake of his friend's strained sanity.
He'd been ambling around for a while looking for that quiet one…Raina, wasn't it? When the girl really wanted to disappear, she could vanish. And with no Tira around to ask for directions (she usually knew how to find the girl), he'd drifted from one girl after the other, from location to location, searching. The last direction he'd been given (from a distracted Lindelas) was she'd gone up to her room.
Ambling up the stairs, he belatedly realised he wasn't sure which of the rooms the girls had been given was hers. With that thought, he shrugged and figured he'd knock on each door until he found her. As he wandered down the hall, from door to door, he realised he was hearing something that definitely did not sound like it belonged.
Pausing where he was he listened to pinpoint the direction; odds were even if the producer of the noise was not Raina the person would know which room was hers or where she could be found.
"Here is my song; listen if you will, but I have no heart for it anymore: I just have half a mind to cut it loose…"
He raised a brow. The voice, he was nearly certain, could only belong to Raina.
"And if it sails off into the blues, then I'll just let it soar…into the sky's better keeping…"
Sure enough, when he followed the music to the northernmost balcony, he found her. She had that strange instrument she'd been lugging around with her when she'd arrived, from which she coaxed a quiet, soothing tune, underlain by a sombre pitch. He hadn't heard her play before, much less heard this instrument, and he paused to listen.
"…and I won't be any poorer for giving it its freedom. Here's one for freedom."
The way she strummed the instrument changed, picking up, and she glanced up. "It is the sea that makes -" She abruptly cut off, seeing him.
"You didn't have to stop on my account." Trelan smiled. "That was nice."
She blushed and mumbled, "I didn't know anyone was around."
"I don't think people generally are." He answered, walking out onto the balcony to join her. "I think this is a private balcony, for the family."
Raina grew very still. "Family…as in, Elrond, the twins, and Aragorn?"
"Well, yes. If I am correct this was the Lady's balcony."
Paling, she hopped up and began putting her instrument away. "Oh, no, no. I didn't know. I-"
Unexpectedly, Elrohir meandered out onto the balcony, stopping short upon seeing Raina and Trelan.
"What…" he began slowly, a little wary, "are you doing here?"
Raina shot him an apologetic look. "I'm so sorry, Ro. I didn't know where I was. Trelan explained; just let me…I'll be gone in a jiffy…" her voice muffled on the last as she ducked her head and flipped the latches on the case.
He sighed. "No, it's…didn't know, did you say?"
Raina looked up, stricken at his suspicious tone. "Honest." She nodded. "I mean, I know what balcony this is, but I didn't know it was this balcony."
"Well. Good. You don't...have to go." He shrugged, but his tone of voice was a little pouty.
Trelan frowned slightly and spoke in Sindarin quietly, "don't say things you don't mean."
Elrohir threw him a look, shook his head, and glanced back at Raina, who'd moved to leave. "You don't have to," he repeated.
A small, ironic smile tugged at Raina's mouth. "I've heard it said eyes don't lie. You say one thing, but your eyes say another. It's alright; I'll go."
He watched her as she left, then went over to the railing, looking down over the river. "Naneth...where did things go wrong?" He asked, not expecting an answer, but needing to get the question out.
Closing his eyes and just listening to the breeze, he thought if he listened hard enough, he could hear his mother, skirts rustling, humming softly as she embroidered. He could just imagine her behind him now, if he pretended for a moment, listening to all the troubles of his heart. She would give a soft sigh and offer insight, then sit back and wait for him to piece together the riddle that was his brother.
He reflected on his recent fight with Dan, his lingering hurt and anger. The slight still stung from the other morning, when Elladan left before he could say goodbye after he'd asked him not to. He sighed heavily.
Dan had accused him of hovering. He could only assume Dan had ignored his wishes to rid himself of his annoying tagger-on. Annoying or not, did that really excuse him of leaving without waiting another minute or two so he could say goodbye?
He wished there was an easy answer for everything, but he knew that there wasn't and never would be; life wasn't meant to be easy.
"Do you think I offended him?" Raina worried as they headed down the hall.
Trelan shrugged. "Not as much, no. I am not sure what has been going on between him and his brother, but it's got the both of them being rather unfriendly as of late; I do not think it is anything you specifically did."
She looked as though she might say something, then hesitated. "Can I…be honest with you? Share something?"
About to reply automatically, he considered her tone. Share something, like a burden something, not just a plain something? But why would that be a problem? Quirking a brow and ruminating on that little confusion, he nodded. "Yes, of course. What's on your mind?"
"It doesn't feel that way with Elladan. It seems every little thing I do, even if I just happen to be in a room he walks into, is offensive to him. He's not treating anyone else this way, that's why I bring it up."
Trelan thought about this for a moment, having noticed that yes, Elladan was acting weirder than the usual Trelan knew, and that a lot of it seemed to revolve around these girls. Could it be he was focusing his irritation on Raina in particular? Trelan had tried not to involve himself in petty behaviour like that of the twins, and so had turned a blind eye.
"I don't know what to tell you," he finally settled on, then wished he did have something to tell her at the look on her face. She may not have expected any concrete answers, but he also wasn't being even a little helpful. "Dan's…peculiar. He gets notions that are all his own and no one can explain them, at least, not anyone but Elrohir, maybe Lord Elrond."
"Hm." Raina frowned. "So you're saying I'll have to ask Elrohir about this." She seemed to be almost pulling a face at that.
Trelan gave a half smile. "I guess I am…unless you would like to request an audience with Lord Elrond?"
"Oh, he already knows."
"And did he give you any advice?"
"Typical elven advice." Raina chuckled. "Totally unhelpful and yet so wise."
The remark was unexpected and he laughed. "I…see."
"No," she sounded amused, "I don't think you do. But that's alright. It's an elf thing."
He paused, caught off guard to realise she was teasing him. He sent her an mock indignant look, then quirked a brow. "What was his advice, anyway?"
"He said he would take care of it."
"Then he will."
She giggled. "If taking care of it is keep Elladan very far away from her, then I guess it's working."
He laughed. "What works, works. Now, Erestor sent me to find you, so let's not keep him waiting, eh?"
"Achoo! Ugh. Are we there yet?" Tira whined, not for the first time. Oh, this particular one was new, but she'd been complaining about one thing after another for hours. The saddle was uncomfortable, it was too cold, how come they didn't have anything better to eat, what was his issue, and how this was all his fault.
She used that final one a lot, about how if he would just get over himself and come to terms with all of his silliness about Raina, she wouldn't have had to come out here.
He paused long enough to rub his head, fighting a headache. He took a deep breath, tried to tell himself to be patient, but he'd been telling himself that for the past twenty complaints.
"Are you so sick you can't tell yourself?" he snapped.
"Oh, you do just have the worst bed side manner."
Elladan scowled. "Well you aren't exactly every healer's dream patient."
"Well I wouldn't even be a patient if I hadn't been dragged all over Imladris and beyond in the middle of winter."
"You're the one that wanted to come!"
"That is quite beside the point, elfie boy." Tira sniffed, both due to her stuffy nose and because the tone she was going for required such a thing.
He blew out his breath and reminded himself that she wasn't worth it. He counted to ten before even thinking of a reply. "Yes," he ground out finally, "we are almost there. If you could be patient for five more minutes, we'll be there."
"Oh, good. A change of company is just what the doctor ordered." She seemed about to say something more, but was cut off by a harsh coughing fit. When it subsided, she must have changed her mind, because she kept quiet after that.
To be fair and honest, he was worried about her. He'd done all he could to take care of her, but there was only so much one could do out in the wilderness, in the cold. He would be relieved when they got home, in more ways than one.
'Course, he wasn't looking forward to the haranguing he knew was coming. Especially knowing Ro would be first in line. He could well imagine the ticking-off that was coming as soon as greetings were exchanged, if Ro even bothered to greet him.
With these broody thoughts in mind, he barely noticed when they rode into the courtyard, the echo of horse hooves telling him it was empty.
With Tira coughing and sniffling and grumbling under her breath the entire way up the steps and into the house, Elladan did not notice at first the horrified stare of the girl who had been sitting in a bored manner on the steps inside until she spoke.
"Oh deary me. My goodness, never thought he'd half kill you. You know, I can totally go get your dad..." Tea rambled.
"No...wait, yes. You do that." Elladan sighed. He glanced between the girl and Tira, noticing how pale she was except for two bright flags on her cheeks.
"Elladan?" Tira's voice was scratchy and miserable as she looked up at him, and he quirked a brow in response. "I'm never going hunting with you in the winter again. Now, which way to my bed?"
He frowned. "Perhaps we ought-"
"Do not say infirmary." Tira grimaced as a cough ripped it's way out of her throat. "I. Want. My. Bed."
Elladan sighed. "Fine. You know where your room is."
"You want me to walk up all those stairs?" She whined.
"You've got two working feet."
"I also got two not-so-working lungs." She replied.
"Tut, tut, Dan. Really, the girl's about to topple over her. Sweep her up, be the gentleman, the knight in shining armour! All that good stuff! Take her up the stairs, to her bed! Come on!"
Tira gave a tired half-smile at Elladan's scowl towards Eltara as the girl came flying through, having seen Tea and gotten the whole story. "You aren't my first choice either, elfie."
"Yes, where is Ro when you need him?" Eltara blinked.
As Elladan hesitated, clearly unhappy about the spot Eltara had cornered him in, who should happen to wander by but the elf in question. Elrohir was thumping down the stairs as if he had a destination when he looked up and saw them.
Taking in an obviously ill Tira, he shifted his concerned gaze to Elladan only to notice that his brother was grimacing, arms crossed.
"Well, well, speak of the devil and he shall appear." Eltara mumbled cryptically.
"What is going on here?" Elrohir demanded, accusatory glare bearing down on his twin.
Elladan scowled. "Nothing I can't handle. We were just discussing whether or not she should go to the infirmary first."
"Oh dear." Tira squeaked. Neither elf paid her any attention.
"Well isn't it obvious? She needs to lie down, so does it matter if it's the infirmary or her room?"
"Um, El?" Tira tried again.
"Yes, well, we were more or less discussing how to get there."
"Go up the stairs, duh." Elrohir shot back.
"We were getting there! Really, Elrohir, you're making it sound like I can't take care of her."
"I think the evidence speaks for itself."
"I don't feel-" Tira managed to get out before she pitched forward.
The twins looked just in time for Elladan to reach out and catch the unconscious girl. As he shifted her to a safer position, Ro was trying to push him aside.
"Look, El, I am-"
"Obviously the answer is, as I said, no, you can't take care of her properly." Ro snapped.
Elladan scowled some more, not even trying to defend himself anymore as he saw it was futile. Ro snorted and picked Tira up, cradling her as gently as he could, but she still moaned and he shot Elladan a terrible look.
"She's burning up. What did you do to her out there?" Without waiting for an answer the elf turned with his burden and headed back the way he'd originally come.
Elladan watched until they reached the landing then made a noise that was remarkably like a growl and turned away, intending to go see what was taking that girl and his father so long when he saw Eltara watching him closely.
"So, obviously you do care to some degree about her well-being." She remarked, amazingly serious, which was a first for her that he had seen.
"Well, I'm not the heartless bastard everyone seems to think." He replied gruffly.
She raised a brow. "And who has called you that? Certainly not us. No…" she shook her head slowly, "if anything, I think you care too much and that is possibly your downfall."
He stiffened. "You should not speak so about those you do not know."
She gave him that insightful look again and smiled. "But I do know you about as well as an outsider can."
He did growl that time, not enjoying the reminder of how much these girls did know, and stepped to the side, intending to go around her when she reached out and grasped his forearm tightly, with strength he did not expect.
"Elladan, don't go away mad. Anger only serves to hide your true feelings, and it can only end badly. Please don't let it all end like that." He frowned at her earnestness and she dropped her hand. "But…"
"Do go find your friends." He interrupted. "I needs must go seek out my father."
With those words he walked away.
He had tried to be as careful as possible, but no matter she still made little discontented noises as he shifted her from his arms onto her bed. As he pulled the blanket back up over her, she cracked her eyes open and furrowed her brow.
"You're not Elladan." She remarked, confusion in her tone evident.
"No." He tried to smile reassuringly.
"You've got…perty eyes." She said after that before gasping for breath between increasing coughs.
"Um, thank you." He busied himself by wetting a cloth in the wash bowl by the window. Returning to her side he began to wipe her forehead but she turned her face away.
"I don't need that." She growled and cleared her throat. He could clearly hear the crackling in her lungs and knew it was definitely full-blown pneumonia.
"Can I get you anything while we wait for Ada?"
Despite her glassy, fevered eyes she got a mischievous look. "You have nice kisses. I like your kisses."
Surprised, Elrohir sat back, staring at her. He thought about that little confession and reflected that her reaction all those weeks ago didn't line up. Something of his confusion must have shown on his face, because Tira, coughing, worked up a grin and poked him in the nose.
"Adorable elf when you're confused. Kiss, please?"
"We…that is, I cannot."
"Can't or won't?" She grumped, then took a few breaths as deep as she could, obviously in distress that she couldn't seem to get as much air as she'd like.
He shook his head slightly. "Don't push for the impossible, child." He said quietly.
"Don't call me…child. Not child…" A sad look crossed her face briefly but disappeared before he could remark on it. "Perty eyes."
Ro sighed as she turned her head to the side and closed her eyes. Her breathing was rough, and he was wondering what was taking Ada so long. Of course, he could very easily go to the infirmary or store cupboard and make her something, but he was reluctant to leave her side. When he had seen her downstairs, seen Elladan frowning at her as if her illness was an inconvenience, he had been incensed at his brother; angry beyond reason that Elladan, a healer in his own right, had allowed her to get so ill on his watch.
He actually feared he would lose her before he had her, knowing also that he would never really have her and this thought made him even angrier; it was a torturous circle. Lightly he placed a hand on her fevered brow and began whispering, hoping he could at least dampen the worst of the fever by will alone.
He was still trying when Elrond entered the room.
"Son, do not tire yourself unnecessarily."
"I do not deem it unnecessary." He replied tiredly.
"And is it helping?"
"No." Elrohir grudgingly answered, removing his hand from her head.
"Perhaps it is best if your brother helps me." Elrond said gently.
Eyes flashing, Elrohir stood up, facing his father. "I do not want that wretch near her. He's almost killed her once with his neglect and I'll not give him the chance to try again."
"Well, I was referring to Estel, but do tell me how you truly feel." Elrond said dryly. Just a few short weeks ago Elrohir had been inseparable from his twin, and now he was once again unaccountably angry. He wished he could get to the root of his sons' difficulties, but feared it would just have to play itself out.
Running a shaky hand through his hair, Elrohir paled. "I apologise, Ada, for my outburst. I will go seek Estel for you."
"Apology accepted."
"And ada…don't…don't let her die."
"Go in peace, my son. It is but pneumonia, and quite curable."
Elrohir shot a worried look towards the bed once more before leaving the room. With a sigh Elrond brushed a hand against her head, frowning at the intense heat she was radiating. Yes, pneumonia was curable…it was usually secondary infection and lack of oxygen that was the danger. But he would not…could not allow such a thing to happen to someone that did not belong here.
"Oh, dear! Oh, my! I have to tell you all a tale! Hear, hear! Once upon a…Third Age, there was a young girl named Tira, best beloved of a…rather confused, but mostly sharp elf. We'll get back to that. Anyhoo, there was a beast, and a knight in shining armour…oh, I fear I've lost my audience. I say! Are you listening?"
Eltara had marched into the Hall of Fire with her grandest air, achieving, despite her best, only a token glance from the girls arranged around the room.
"Frankly, if I have to hear about Tira, or Tira's love life, again I will be ill." SG made a face. "Everyone is rather tired of hearing about it. Bad enough we have to see it."
"Well." Eltara huffed, placing her hands on her hips. "See if I tell you about her practically being hauled in dead no thanks to Elladan."
"Oh go on. What, did he finally throttle her like he's been promising?" JRH asked with a snort.
"Nope." Quiet Tea spoke up, having come in shortly before Eltara but not said anything. Drama wasn't necessarily her thing. "She's sick. Really sick."
"Yes, like Tea said. On her death bed!" Eltara put a hand to her head, pretending to swoon.
"How sick is really sick?" JLyH asked, the nurse in her concerned.
"Pneumonia, I think." Eltara shrugged, disappointed her story had been reduced to bare bones facts. She and Tira were very alike in that aspect. "But she keeled over right into Ro's arms. Well, sort of. Elladan caught her, but Ro is the one who carried her away. Not into the sunset, though. No, just upstairs. Far as I know Lord Elrond is on his way to perform his magical elf stuff."
"Oh my." JLyH looked worried. She of all of them knew best what sort of things they'd do for serious pneumonia in their world, just as she knew none of those things were available here.
"It's all just so very tragic! And romantic! You can't forget the romance. Tragical romance! Star-crossed lovers! Oh dear, Romeo and Juliet-esque. Hmm…let's hope it doesn't reach that stage." Eltara rambled on as the others talked amongst themselves on what may have happened on the supposedly safe hunting trip Tira had wrangled her way into.