"Oooof!"

"Oh, excuse me, Erestor", Glorfindel exclaimed, stooping to help the advisor pick up the papers he had dropped.

"For Valar's sake, Glorfindel, can you not watch where you are going", Erestor grumbled as he tried to neatly arrange the papers again. "Your sight should be the best in Imladris since your height rivals that of an Oliphaunt."

Glorfindel laughed as he plopped the papers he'd gathered haphazardly into Erestor's arms, serving only to annoy his friend more. "You are partially right, but being so tall makes it hard to see little marsh hares like yourself."

It was well known in Imladris that Glorfindel was by far the tallest elf and Erestor was the shortest. It annoyed Erestor to no end to have his face rubbed in it, so naturally Glorfindel teased his friend every chance he got. Erestor glared at the marchwarden and snorted in indignation, though his lips twitched in a slight smile. The fact that the two very opposite elves were also the very best of friends was also a well-known fact in the Last Homely House.

Glorfindel laughed again as he got exactly the reaction he desired. "So, mellon nin, where are you off to this fine afternoon?"

"I am taking these papers to Lord Elrond for examination", Erestor said as they began walking together. "Also, I wished to inform him that Malorn missed lessons today. I think it is the first time he has not shown up without a good excuse since he came here."

"Then we share a similar mission", Glorfindel mused grimly. "Malorn also did not show up to training today. I was on my way to tell Lord Elrond as well."

"Strange, mellon nin. It is not at all like him. I hope everything is well…"

"What do you make of it, hir nin?"

Elrond stared off into space over steepled fingers as he pondered Erestor's question. "I know not right now, mellon nin. I wonder if he has been at any meals? I have been very busy the past two days and have taken all my food here. I shall have to find him and ask what…"

Elrond broke off as a sharp, insistent knock sounded on his door.

"Enter", he called.

The door burst open and the twins bounded into the room.

"Ada, neither of us have seen Malorn at all the past two days", Elladan said, his brow creased with worry. "He has not been to any meals and the kitchen staff have said no food was ordered to be brought to his chambers."

"We also spoke to Vamir and the rest of his friends", Elrohir continued. "They have not seen him at all either."

"We tried his room", Elladan picked up. "But the door was locked and if he was inside, he either would not or could not answer us."

Elrond stood and swept from the room. This isolation was not at all like the happy and always excited Malorn they had grown to love. This behavior sounded like the sad, confused, and grieving Malorn they had met in Mirkwood over half a year ago. Something had happened to greatly hurt the young elf and Elrond intended to find out what. He arrived at the door to Malorn's chambers and knocked loudly.

"Malorn, Malorn please let me in", Elrond called. "I only wish to talk to you, Penneth."

The room remain eerily silent, no cheerful call to enter, nor quiet shuffle of footsteps coming to answer the door, nor even sounds of breathing could be heard from within. Elrond thought for a long moment before coming up with a plan. He remembered the oak tree that overhung Malorn's balcony. With some luck, the doors leading outside would be open, as they often were since Malorn loved the fresh air, and he could enter that way. The challenge would be scaling the large tree.

Elrond stared up at the high limbs and swallowed hard. It had been many a year since he had even attempted to climb a tree this size, but it was the only way into Malorn's room without breaking down the door. Heaving a sigh, Elrond shed his robes and began scaling the branches. After several slips and trips and many moments of held breath as he crawled along the thin branches higher up, he finally made it to the top and, relieved, planted his feet on the solid balcony. Elrond looked up and saw to his relief that the doors leading to Malorn's living room were indeed open to allow the breeze to come in.

"Malorn", Elrond called softly. "Malorn, are you here?"

No response was forthcoming. Concerned, Elrond searched the living room and bathing chambers, finding nothing in either place. He then entered the bedroom and there found his young charge, though the sight brought him no end to his worry.

Malorn lay in his bed, seemingly asleep, but his eyes were closed and his breathing seemed strained and shallow. The evidence of fresh tears was displayed in the large wet spots that adorned his pillow and the salty tracks that lined his cheeks. He looked to have not been awake for some time, however, even still being dressed in the same tunic and leggings he worn on his dinner with Alais. That could only mean he had been crying in his sleep, something elves never did unless they were deeply distressed. Elrond silently stepped forward and took Malorn's hand in his own, his anxiety growing when he felt that it was chilled and slightly clammy.

"Malorn", Elrond said, gently shaking him. "Malorn, you must wake, Penneth. Wake up, Malorn!"

Malorn remained limp against Elrond's hand and the healer tried again, shaking him more firmly and calling his name louder. Finally, after nearly two full minutes of silence, Malorn let out a weak groan and cracked his eyes open, squinting up at Elrond's face.

"H…Hir nin", Malorn croaked, trying to push himself up on an elbow. "I…I am sorry I did not hear you come in."

"Malorn, what is wrong", Elrond asked, dropping to his knees beside the bed. "Why are you so weak? You look to have not risen at all in the past two days."

"Wh…what, it has been two days", Malorn questioned, looking shocked. "I thought it was the morning after…after…"

The memories rushed back to Malorn and tears filled his eyes once again while a tremble racked his body.

"Malorn, what has happened", Elrond asked, turning the young elf's face up to meet his. "I cannot help you if I do not know what is wrong."

"I…I t…told her", Malorn gasped between sobs. "I could n…not hide it anymore. B…But she hates me now."

"Told who what?"

"Alais, about what happened in M…Mirkwood."

Elrond blinked in shock. He had fully expected Malorn to eventually tell Alais about his past, but the fact that Alais now hated him for it greatly surprised Elrond. "But why, Malorn? Why do you think she hates you? Did you not tell her that you are here because you seek a new life, because you no longer want to be the person you were?"

"I did, b…but she said she did not want to be a part of me", Malorn murmured, the returning memories seeming to literally drain the life from him as he spoke. He buried his face in Elrond's tunic, needing desperately the contact from the elf lord. "She said what I…I did was inexcusable."

"Why was it so inexcusable", Elrond pressed, sensing there was something Malorn was leaving out.

When there was no response, Elrond pulled away a bit and inhaled sharply when he saw Malorn's eyes glazing and closing again in sleep.

"Malorn, Malorn, wake up", Elrond called urgently, tapping Malorn's cheek.

"T'red", Malorn slurred, slipping closer to sleep.

"I know you are tired, but you cannot sleep now", Elrond said, shaking Malorn to keep him awake. "You cannot succumb, or you may never wake again."

"Why?"

"Because it is not just your heart that is breaking", Elrond said. "Your fëa is breaking as well. I can feel it dying within you. You are letting your grief overcome you and you will fade if you continue. Now wake up, Malorn!"

"F…Fade", Malorn repeated, forcing himself toward wakefulness. "B…But I do not want to fade. What must I do to stop this?"

"You must fight the heartache", Elrond said sadly. "You cannot let it overcome you. You must accept what has happened and try to move forward."

Malorn shuddered in Elrond's arms and his tears ran anew. "I cannot not, hir nin. I…I loved her in a way I have not loved any others. Her rejection is too much to bear."

"Why did she say your actions were inexcusable in her eyes, Penneth", Elrond asked again. "This could perhaps be all a misunderstanding."

Malorn shook his head. "She is angry that I harmed you. You are like her own father and her loyalty lies with you before me, as it should. She cannot forgive my mistakes. I…I would not have her betray her family because of me."

Elrond felt deep disappointment swirl sharply within him and turn his stomach. After all Alais had been through, all she had seen, Elrond found it hard to believe she would ever think of rejecting another because of their reactions to tragedy. Had he not raised her to know better than to treat another like this? Suddenly, Malorn's hand gripped his, pulling Elrond from his thoughts.

"Do not be angry at her, please", Malorn begged. "I know what family means to someone and I know how it feel to them taken. I was so angry when Ada was taken from me and I know my actions have stirred similar emotions in her. I hurt and tried to kill the only family she has left this side of Valinor. Wanting her to forgive such a thing is too much to ask."

Elrond released a sigh but a smile touched his lips. "You have come a long way, Penneth. You are allowing yourself to feel all your emotions rather than turning them to anger when thing go awry. Nonetheless, I would be a poor father if I allowed Alais to act such without guiding her back into what is right."

"But she does have a right to be angry", Malorn argued. "I hurt those she loves. Please do not speak to her of this. I would not have the one she is so loyal to reprimand her because of that loyalty."

Elrond sighed, but nodded in agreement. "Very well. I shall not interfere right now. I will give you both time to work through it on your own. I do have hope that this will be resolved for you, Malorn. I have felt your fear positively glow when you are together. Those feelings are completely real and such love cannot be forgotten so easily. Please hold on to hope and do not let despair kill your fëa. I truly believe Alais still loves you and her heart will remember in time."

Malorn smiled sadly, still a bit unconvinced but feeling a spark of hope return to his heart. Elrond mirrored the expression and gently settled his young charge back against the pillows, tucking the blankets up around him. "Rest, Malorn, and hold on to hope. Hope will keep you from fading and show you the way to get through this. I shall stay with you."

The young elf smiled softly in gratitude and slipped back into sleep, his eyes staying half open to Elrond's relief. "Malorn, you are trying so hard. Do not give up, Penneth. There are so many who care for you greatly and will stand by you no matter what."

Elvish Terms:

Ada - Dad

Fëa/Fëar – An elf's spirit

Hir Nin – My Lord

Mellon Nin – My friend

Penenth – Young one

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