Chapter 28

Sing hey! For the bath at close of day

That washes the weary mud away!

A loon is he that will not sing:

O! Water Hot is a noble thing! -JRR Tolkien

Luinur rode into the clearing near noon the next day. He looked relaxed and happy. He peeked silently into the cave, and smiled at the sight of Caradorn and Eleirien sound asleep, nestled close together. He stepped in, scratching his head when he realized they were fully clothed. He looked around, and a broad grin lit his face at the sight of the clothing strewn randomly around the chamber. He paced swiftly over to peer into the next chamber, then went outside to check on the horses.

He glided silently back into the forest, where a tall female form met him. "All is well here." he said.

"Good." replied Mae. "When can we use this hot spring I hear of?" Her arms came up to rest on Luinur's shoulders. He reached out, encircling her waist in his arms.

"Not today, I think, but soon." He angled his head toward hers, and they kissed, then walked, arm in arm, away.

The next day, he again found them sleeping. Holding a finger to his lips, he beckoned Mae into the cave. They bathed in the adjacent chamber. When they came out, Caradorn and Elei had not moved. Luinur stepped next to the bed, briefly concerned, but their breathing was even. He motioned to Mae, and they gathered up the strewn clothing and draped it carefully over stones in the bath chamber. Outside, he quipped, "They must be exhausted." He grinned at Mae, who grinned back. She no longer had a pinched look to her features.

The third day, Elei woke slowly. Her head felt very foggy. She rose, disoriented, and found her water flask. She drained it, then peered, bleary-eyed, into the bath chamber. Head foggy, she undressed and stepped into the pool. She found the rounded stone ledge she could lean back against. It kept her head comfortably out of the water. Arms resting along the edge of the pool, head thrown back, she drifted off into a heavy sleep in the warm water.

A jingle of elven harnesses outside did not rouse her. Voices cried "Lakh hiru!" The stamp of booted feet coming into the cavern did not penetrate Elei's sleep.

"Lakh hiru! You are summoned!" said an elvish voice. There was a muffled exclamation.

"He sleeps! What shall we do?'

"Bring him." said a stern voice. "We are charged to summon him immediately to Father at Rivendell, and so we shall."

"Brew some tea!" came another voice. There was a clanking of pots outside. Caradorn's horse whinnied softly. After a short while, two identical tall elves with dark hair and grey eyes emerged, carrying a sleeping Caradorn.

"Thank Eru he was already dressed!"

"Yes, but I think we'd best rouse him, to pull on his own boots." A young blond elf handed them a steaming cup. One held it while the other struggled to prop Caradorn into a sitting position. He settled for leaning him against his shoulder, where they sat together on a stone. "Come now, Eryngon, awake!" he said gently, slapping his cheek lightly with his hand. Caradorn's head rolled slightly and his lips moved. Then his chin fell back to his chest. The elf gave an exasperated sigh.

The second elf came over with the mug of tea, and waved it under Caradorn's nose, while his companion held the prince's head up. The first elf clicked his tongue in exasperation. "Nothing! He may be drugged. Hand me that tea, and check inside."

A few seconds later, the second elf came out. "Look!" he said, "Idhind berries!" He held up one of Elei's lithuilenn. The first elf shook his head. "Surely he knew what those are! How could he be so careless?"

"Well, 'twill wear off. See if you can rouse him, 'twould be hard to carry him all the way; best if he can ride his own horse."

"At least if we get him to Father, he can tell if aught else is wrong with him. This looks more like the angolvorduin."

"Aye! Now, come, Caradorn. Wake up!" he urged. Caradorn roused slightly, and they urged tea on him. He drank, and woke enough to don his boots. They packed his armor and weapons with their own gear. Then they helped him mount his horse. He sat in the saddle, half awake. The horse set out, walking docilely between the two dark-haired elves on their mounts. The remaining young elf looked in puzzlement at Elei's pony, then settled in to wait for Caradorn's companions, to relay the news. After an hour had passed, Luinur rode up.

"Lord," said the blond elf, "the lakh hiru was called to Rivendell."

"Oh, what news?" asked Luinur.

"Lord Elrond asks that all of you draw in nearer to the last bridge and the Bruinen. They need a close watch kept on the ways out of Rivendell. Also," the youngling swallowed nervously, voice cracking, "Aran Thranduil sends word that he is beset. Uruks are pressing nearer to Ivorcalarond. He calls for aid, hoping that all of his people will not have to take refuge in the halls there."

Luinur's lips set grimly. "I then have a charge for you." he said. "Watch over the lady, and I will send for her kin to come for her."

The youngling was startled, asking "Lady?"

Luinur, alarmed at this reaction, dashed into the cave. He looked into the bath chamber, and found Elei sleeping nude in the warm pool, her head resting on the curved stone edge. He shook her gently, finding her difficult to rouse. A raised voice outside caught his ear. "Mae?" he called urgently, coming out of the cave. Mae looked up at Luinur. He had a panicked look on his face. His tunic was damp in the front. "Mae, I need your help!" he said. "Please?" She followed him into the cave. He babbled "She will not wake, and Caradorn was called away!"

"I see." said Mae frostily, taking in the nude figure. She enjoyed Luinur's discomfiture for a moment before she said, "Well, our friend outside can help me. Shoo, send her in!"

"Her?" he said. "Oh." Sheepishly, he obeyed.

The youngling helped Mae lift Elei between both of them, towel her off, and dress her. Throughout, she never fully woke. They carried her to a bed and laid her carefully down, spreading a fur over her. "There!" said Mae triumphantly, as she stepped outside to Luinur. "Now she is fit." She peered at him. "But sleeping still."

Luinur shook his head. Suddenly he slapped his forehead. "The flasks!" he exclaimed. Mae looked at him with growing concern. Then she spun, and picked up the two flasks. She sniffed one. "Mead." she said, shaking it. She opened the second flask and tipped it slowly. One sluggish black drop came out. "Angolvorduin," she said grimly, "all used."

Luinur sank down onto a stone, his head in his hands. "Oh, no." he said.

"Blame not yourself!" exclaimed Mae. "It was by mistake, if they drank so much of the water of the black river. It will wear off."

"True." said Luinur. "And now, I fear we must away, toward Rivendell and beyond. Are you ready, my love?"

Mae nodded grimly. Luinur consulted briefly with the young elf, telling her who to look for. Luinur and Mae readied their own armor and weapons and rode off eastward.