Later that evening, after Elrond had made sure Celebrían was sleeping soundly, he went into the main sitting room where his sons were waiting for him. Elrond planned on having a very long discussion about their reckless behavior. "I want to have a good long talk…" he barely got a sentence out when a horrific scream ripped through the halls. Not even excusing himself, Elrond raced out of the room leaving the twins staring after him in shock.

After a few seconds had passed, Elrohir regained his composure. "That had to of been mother, Elladan. I think we had better go and see if father needs our help."

Quickly getting to their feet, the two hurried to their mother's room. When they reached their parents' room, they were shocked to see their father attempting to calm their mother, but instead of her reaching out for him she was recoiling as if she was afraid he would hurt her. Not even bothering to look at one another, they rushed over to their father, their hearts pounding fiercly as though they would burst through their chests.

"Father, what is wrong with mother?" Elladan asked terrified that perhaps she was hurt.

Elrond had no idea exactly what was wrong. He felt so helpless. How was he supposed to help his wife when she would not let him near her? Shaking his head, he started to answer his son when suddenly, Celebrían stopped screaming and recoiling further away; she flattened herself against the wall began sobbing her eyes darting around the room in terror.

Feeling the last shards of restraint leave him, Elrond turned on his sons and lashed out at them. "Look at what you have done! Can you two not stop and think for once? By carelessly rushing in like you did, you frightened your mother!"

Hearing her husband shout, Celebrían winced and started crying out once more causing Elrond to become even angrier. Not wishing to upset his wife, Elrond narrowed his eyes and motioned for his sons to leave the room at once. Glancing at their mother and then one another, they bowed their heads stiffly. "As you wish, my lord." Turning, the two left the room leaving their father to try and comfort their mother.

When his sons had left, Elrond slowly advanced toward his wife. "Celebrían, love, it is me, Elrond. Do you not recognize me? I will not hurt you. You only had a bad dream, nothing here will hurt you, I will not allow it," he kept repeating softly, in hopes she would calm down enough to allow him to comfort her. Eventually, Celebrían slowed her breathing and looked up at Elrond, recognition setting in. Not saying a word, she held out her arms and allowed her husband to hold her until she fell asleep.

As Elrond kept watch over Celebrían, a massive wave of despair fell over him. What was he going to do? It had already been a few weeks since they had moved her from the healing wing to their room and yet, she was making no improvement whatsoever, and until she started talking to him, he would not be able to do much for her. Elrond did not want to admit it, but he was beginning to realize, that just maybe, he would not be able to help his wife at all.


"Glorfindel, I should have been able to protect the escort…to stop the attack. Lord Elrond, trusted me to keep his wife safe and I could not even do that," Faron said as he paced the room slowly. Despite his family and Glorfindel's best attempts to reassure Faron that what happened was not his fault, the captain would not believe them, and although his physical wounds were now healed, his emotional injuries were not improving by the slightest.

Glorfindel stood to his feet and walked over to where his close friend was standing and placed a hand gently on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. As he started to speak, Faron jerked away nearly falling only to be grabbed from behind by Glorfindel.

"Quickly, we must find Tinil and Celebrían and retreat; there are just too many of them!" Faron commanded as he was slammed in the shoulder by another falling Elf. Faron gazed down bile rising in his throat as he realized he more than likely would not survive this battle.

Just as he made to find Celebrían and Tinil, he felt an Orc grab him from behind and tried to tackle him to the ground. Feeling a rush of adrenaline flow through him, he head-butted the Orc, turning around and hitting him in the head with the broad end of his sword.


Lord Ivordaer was on his way to visit his son when he heard loud noises coming from Faron's room. Panic filling him, he rushed to his son's room and upon entering he was horrified to find Glorfindel lying unresponsive on the floor and next to him, his son falling to his knees screaming.

"Faron, ion-nín, what happened?" Ivordaer asked trying to get his son's attention, but Faron would not even acknowledge he even heard him. Turning his attention back to Glorfindel, Ivordaer tried calling his name but got no response. As he looked closer at his face, Ivordaer noticed a small stream of blood running down his head. That was when he saw the broken glass on the floor and a small shard of glass embedded in the Seneschal's forehead.

"Glorfindel?" Faron's father called out, gently shaking Glorfindel. After a few attempts, Glorfindel slowly opened his eyes and let out a soft moan. "Are you alright, my Lord Glorfindel?" Ivordaer asked helping the golden-haired warrior to sit up.

As soon as his vision came into focus, Glorfindel placed a hand over his cut to try and stop the bleeding. "I think so."

"What happened?"

"It was my fault. I touched Faron's shoulder while he was not looking and it set him off. He must have thought I was an attacker," Glorfindel explained standing shakily to his feet.

Ivordaer looked over at his son who was still on his knees sobbing uncontrollably.

"I am going to go get Lord Elrond, stay here with your son, but do not under any circumstances touch him until we return." Making sure that Faron's father understood, Glorfindel left the room to find Elrond.

When he had left, Ivordaer walked slowly over to Faron who was now rocking back and forth on his knees shaking. The very sight of his son broke his heart. He was only glad his wife was not here to see her child like this for it would no doubt crush her. Remembering what Glorfindel told him about not touching him until he returned, Ivordaer at first sat next to him, but the longer he saw his son in this present state of mind, the more he wanted to comfort him.

Surely, it would not hurt just to caress his cheek, after all, I am his father, and he would not hurt me, Ivordaer thought to himself, and carefully reaching out he softly touched his son's cheek. "Faron," he whispered into his ear, "you are all right my son. You are safe in Rivendell." Before Ivordaer could respond, Faron screamed, striking him in the face.


Elrond sighed softly as he pulled the covers up over his sleeping wife. Since he had calmed her down, she had not made any other movements or sounds. He was just thinking about finding his sons to apologize to them when Glorfindel arrived looking shaken, his face covered in blood. "Glorfindel, what happened?" he asked rushing over to him his eyes roaming over his friend's body to make sure he was not hurt anywhere else.

"It is Faron. We were talking, and he became upset blaming himself again for what happened. I walked over to him and placed my hand on his shoulder. He thought I was an enemy and smashed a vase over my head knocking me out. I woke up a few minutes later to see his father next to me."

"Where is Lord Ivordaer now?" Elrond asked starting to clean his friend's face.

Glorfindel flinched as Elrond dabbed at the wound. "I left him alone with Faron. I did not want to leave Faron alone, so I told Ivordaer just to sit and keep an eye on him until I returned."

Elrond stopped cleaning the wound and looked up at his friend worried. "You left him alone with Faron? I do not like the sound of that, quickly, we must check on Faron before he attacks anyone else. I will tend to your wound later."

Nodding, the two hurried to check on Faron, both hoping that Ivordaer had sense enough not to touch his son while he was incoherent.

Just as the two arrived at Faron's room, Ivordaer came running out, with tears running down his face and a huge welt on his face. "Ivordaer, what happened?" Elrond asked already dreading the answer.

Ivordaer was shaken up, breathing heavily. "I am sorry, Lord Glorfindel. I know you told me not to touch Faron, but when I saw him so upset and scared, I just had to try and help him. When I touched his face softly, he lashed out at me."

"Was Faron ever violent as a child?" Elrond asked becoming more concerned by the minute. This was the third time Faron became violent, and Elrond was now worried if they could not help him, that Faron might end up severely injuring another Elf or worse…kill one.

Ivordaer shook his head. "Never, he was always a gentle ellon. This is not like him at all."

Taking a deep breath, Elrond slowly walked into the room, followed closely by both Ivordaer and Glorfindel. When they entered the room, Faron was laying in a fetal position shaking, mumbling incoherently. Elrond quickly and carefully approached Faron, kneeling placing a hand over Faron's head. Whispering a few words, Faron went limp. "Glorfindel, help me get him into bed," Elrond said, starting to already lift Faron up by his waist.

Glorfindel rushed over and lifted his friend up by his legs, and the two managed to get Faron into bed. As soon as Faron was situated, Elrond turned towards Ivordaer and Glorfindel. "Glorfindel, no one is allowed in this room except for Miril, myself, you and his family," turning his attention to Ivordaer, he looked at him somberly, "Ivordaer, I am afraid, I am going to have to ask you not to touch your son. He is too unstable, no longer able to tell the difference between friend or foe. You may stay in the room with him, but you need to be very careful…I also suggest you begin making arrangements at once for him to sail, I am afraid there is no hope for him here on these shores any longer."

Closing his eyes, Ivordaer, lowered his head. "I am afraid I must agree with you, my lord, but my wife will be heartbroken."

"I know, but this is the only way to help him now," Elrond said placing a comforting hand on his shoulders.

All Ivordaer could do was remain silent as the realization hit him: his son was lost to him. He might not have died physically, but spiritually, he was gone.