Chapter Twenty-nine

Elrond was going through her cupboards, Elladan scouring her flat for something to annoy her with no doubt. Tae lay on the bed motionless, too ill to move. She had made the effort this morning to get up and make breakfast but her brief exercise was haunting her now. Sure, the elves had loved the crumpets, were sad when she admitted she had no idea how to make them and weren't getting bored now she had gone back to bed; yet she felt uncomfortable having them investigating her flat unsupervised. For all she knew Elladan had electrocuted himself and Elrond had eaten laxatives…but oh, she was too sick to do anything about it anymore.

Elladan came back with her mobile phone, explaining that it had been making a noise but she just sighed and told him to stick it in a drawer. He frowned at her colour and mood and Tae could tell he was sizing her up for a tisane.

"Don't bother, could you go into the kitchen and get me some pills instead, please" she said quickly, before sneezing.

Elladan cocked his head at her and came over to the bed. He had no idea what she was saying as his father still had the translation ring, but he was certain she was moaning about something. The elf decided he would just have to cure her as she was too irritable when ill. He placed a hand on her brow and an elegant eyebrow rose as he felt how much her temperature had risen since last night.

Fearing that Elladan was indeed contemplating a tisane Tae screamed.

"ELROND!"

In seconds the elf was in the room complete with a guilty look on his face and a Delia Smith cookbook in hand.

"Could you please tell this son of yours that I do not want a tisane, just some bloody peace. Now both of you go into the room next door, check out the black box and press the button on the front" she ordered.

Elrond began to protest, he too could tell that his young charge was quite ill but he reasoned that they were probably doing more harm than good what with pestering her with 'crum-pets' and 'deeveedees'.

"Provided you go and take one of your own special remedies, I do not want you to be ill"


It was daunting to think of letting loose the elves on Merseyside. It was scary enough trying to look after their inquisitive minds when in the flat. Now everything of interest had been examined and explained, at least partially, and the two Noldoran were beginning to get restless.

Tae set the mug of cupasoup that she was sipping from down on the kitchen sideboard and picked up another mug, this one full of Lemsip. She pondered the safest and easiest way to show them around before downing the blackberry drink. Then she blew her nose as she came to the decision that she would take them to Wales, a place where she knew it was easy to hide if they came into trouble, leafy enough for the elves and with enough technology to satisfy her.

The young woman went back to the sitting room where she had left her visitors watching Trisha and waited until she got their attention.

"I'm going out" she said

Elrond stood up and his son quickly followed suit. Before he could open his mouth the girl clarified the situation.

"Don't even consider it. You two are staying here, I won't be gone long"

Elladan asked his father for a translation as Tae left the room, and frowned when he learnt that Tae intended to journey alone.

"Ada, is she not in danger on her own?" he asked in their native tongue

"I fear we would only hinder her passage in the realm of men. Remember son, there are no elves in this land; how could Tae explain us just appearing? No, I think she is right to leave us here, at least for now"

Meanwhile, Tae went to fetch her car keys and purse. She returned to see them both engrossed in Trisha again, Elrond was talking rapidly in elvish, presumably giving Elladan a running commentary to the chat show. The elf lord caught her eye and winked, as if to give her his blessing.

She smiled and left them watching the show, this weeks episode was coincidentally captioned 'My father isn't my father'. Descending the stairs to the ground floor, occupied by the Delicatessen but with a separate stairwell to her flat, Tae smelt wondrous cooking smells. She easily resolved to buy something nice for dinner on the way back, up until now the elves had been eating the contents of her fridge-freezer and she could tell they were not impressed.

As she unlocked the car door and got in she felt very strange; it had been months since she had last seen a car, let alone driven one. She put her head on the steering wheel as she contemplated how much her life had been turned upside down. After a few minutes of meditative breathing she managed to suppress the need to tear her hair out and she started the car up.


"So what happens now?" asked Elladan when the show ended

"We watch something else?" ventured his father

"No, I mean about her. You brought her back for a reason, I would see her cured as soon as possible and returned home. The sooner we leave this foul place the better" The urgent tone in his voice was not unnoticed by Elrond

"Ai! Give her some time to settle in first, Elladan; we may only be here temporarily but this is Tae's home, we cannot rush her out of it…And there is no need to worry that she will not wish to return with us" Elrond finished in a tone which showed he was aware of his sons situation with the half elf and none too happy about it.

"I...I do not think she would stay...You know how I feel for her Ada, therefore you must also know that I want the best for her, and if it is to have these Edan heal her than so be it. It does not mean that I want to prolong our stay here over what is necessary for her treatment"

"Listen to yourself, you sound like her husband already. You will have to trust the humans to take care of her. I spoke with her about it this morning and she has agreed to seek a 'doctor' once she has shown us a little of her world. She says they will perform tests to determine what ails her, this will take time. I asked her to see the healer before purging our curiosity by taking us out and about…but she was quite adamant on the order of things" Elrond purposely kept his voice stern, effectively closing the subject when he got up to make use of the bathroom.

Elladan scowled at the back of his retreating father. It hurt him to know that if Tae ever changed her mind about their relationship, his own father would disapprove. He could appreciate the reasons for his over-protectiveness, but he disliked the fact nonetheless.


She closed her eyes and pictured her hands on his slim waist, estimating what size jeans to get him. Before her imagination could wander down the oft travelled road she opened her eyes and put a pair of jeans into her basket. She absently thanked the education system for gifting her with a student loan large enough to cover these purchases. She also smiled in recognition of the deal she had made in the University campus office earlier. Since time was functioning normally she was missing days out in college, and needed an excuse for her absence. Luckily the guys in the office owed her a heap of favours and she called every one in so that she could get a way with a little unauthorised holiday.

She picked up a pair of combat pants, also for Elladan and a couple of pairs of smarter trousers for his father, before moving to the shirt department. Chucking various designs in her now overflowing basket she next headed to footwear.

"Shit!"

She couldn't say she had ever fantasised about Elladan's feet. There was only one thing for it; she would have to hope the elves at her home would know what to do. She got out her mobile phone and quickly dialled. The phone rang for a long time before it was hesitantly picked up, and then it was a while before she heard Elladan's sing-song Scandinavian voice at the other end.

"Elladan…Elrond. Get your father…Ada, Elladan" Her frantic phone call was drawing strange looks form nearby shoppers, and it was only when Elrond came on the phone that she realised why. The people may have recognised the names she was using from Tolkien's books or Jackson's recent films. More likely the latter, she thought, as she looked at the clientele of the shop.

"Tae?" Elrond's voice brought her back from her daydreaming.

"Yes? Ah, how big are your feet Elrond?"

"What?"

"Go into my room, first drawer on your left, there is a long plastic…"

"The drawer of your undergarments?" said Elrond with a slight hint of a chuckle

"Bugger, no. The other left, you know, right?"

"Ah yes, long…plastic…it is transparent"

"Yeah that's it, now measure yours and Elladan's feet for me"

There was a rustling as presumably the Elven lord bent down; she could hear Elladan's excited voice in the background.

"My son has the same length feet as I. This instrument measures twenty four. Is that of help? I take it you are obtaining suitable footwear for us both"

"Yes, that's great. Thanks for that E, I'll be home in about an hour"

She put the phone down without waiting for an answer and went to the shops' customer service desk.

"I couldn't borrow a ruler could I?" Tae asked the clerk with as much politeness as she could muster; she hated shopping and was eager to get out of there. The male shop assistant smiled and handed over a ruler but Tae was sure he was thinking she was deranged right then.

With the nightmare at the clothes shop over, Tae had all her purchases in the boot and was now en-route to Sainsbury's to get some food in. Once there she piled her trolley high with things she thought the elves might appreciate, along with a healthy supply of wine and more crumpets. She also added a few things that she had an idea they may not like, but she decided they should not go home without experiencing them.

Heading home at last, Tae's mind wandered to thoughts of doctors and injections. Grudgingly she had to admit that Elrond's scheme to bring her home for treatment was a good one. She just hoped that modern science would not let them down. She did not know how long she could put up with the constant pain in her body before it drove her mad. As she pulled into the car park behind the Deli she saw Elladan staring out from her bedroom, absently looking out at the city spread before him in the distance. He was not looking at her but she could see the frustration plain on his face. Not wishing to walk in on an argument unprepared, Tae decided that now was one of the rare times that mind-reading could be justified. She parked the car in the garage and concentrated, steadied her breathing and closed her eyes; focusing her thoughts on the elf in her bedroom. She remembered to mask her intrusion as Talen had taught her, so that Elladan would not know she was listening to his thoughts.

"What a horrible existence in such a filthy land. I may not have been outside this building but I can tell from looking at the stars that this earth is choking…and nobody is listening to its cries for aid.

Why do I get the impression that she loves this land greater than the beauty that is Arda? I know not, but I will not loose her to this place once Serbitar is defeated. I will not loose her. If she feels the same way about me than I do her, she must stay with me in Middle Earth; relationship or no relationship. As for the Valar, if they do not offer her immortality I will petition them myself…If she would only love me and stop restraining herself I would give up my own life…Ai! I wonder that it would ever come to that. My heart cannot live without her.

My conscience will not hear of giving up on her. She is unlike any elleth I have known these past millennia, even Matarese, fiery though she is. I love her…"

Tae broke the connection and her mind ceased to function for a few moments. When her head cleared she wondered who the elleth Matarese was, and then remembered the elven woman staring daggers at her that time in Rivendell. Arwen had seemed shifty over her identity even then, surely if Matarese and Elladan had had a relationship it would have been a long time ago. A cloud of doubt formed in Tae's mind as she considered things.

"If only he knew how much I wanted him" she said aloud. She began to think about his words, and whether she would leave Rivendell once her task had been completed. But there was always the big 'if'. But then, what was there here anymore for her? Imladris had warmth, beauty and friends. Earth had family. Could she see herself spending the rest of her days in Merseyside, knowing what she has rejected in its favour? And who she would be rejecting?

Tae was already aware of Elladan's feelings and she was aware of her own for him, yet she would not allow him to forsake his immortality whatever happened…or stay with her while she grew old and withered. She resolved to speak to Elrond, or even contact Galadriel and Talen with regards to the question of her longevity.

She got out of the car and opened the boot. Once the cartload of goodies were in the stairwell to her flat (no easy feat), she called for reinforcements. Elladan immediately caught her eye and she could tell his thoughts were still troubling him, he had his happy face on but she could feel his eyes burning into her back every time she turned from him.

Once everything was in the kitchen Tae gave the elves their respective bundles and asked them to go and try the things on whilst she put the food away. Elladan came back first, his father followed shortly and the pair looked like a couple of reformed rock musicians with their long hair over smart threads. Tae stifled a giggle, there was nothing they could do about their ears and she doubted they'd let her cut their hair! She gave them a thumbs up and went back to cooking; they sat at the table talking softly in elvish.

After a quick meal of chicken fajitas, potato wedges and white wine the three settled down in the living room and Tae put the radio on. Elrond gave the translation ring back to Tae and they talked for a couple of hours about where they would visit in Wales. Elrond got up with a smile, said goodnight and retired to the spare room. He took paper and pencil (he wouldn't entertain using a biro), and said he was going to begin a record of all the things he'd encountered on this earth.

At his request, Tae ran a bath for Elladan, refusing his half-hearted second request for some company whilst in it. Tae dug out the phone number for her local GP before changing into her pyjamas and settling down to watch a re-run of Father Ted on channel four. By the time Elladan had finished his bath the Irish comedy had finished and Tae was curled up in bed reading the day's post.

"How long does it take to get a bath? I thought you had drowned or something" she said sarcastically as the elf appeared in nothing but a pink hand towel wrapped around his waist.

"I don't usually have to scrub my own back" he replied, and Tae noticed tension in his voice.

"No, I'm sure you don't" she said darkly.

Elladan came over to the bed and sat down gently. In his hand he held the boxer shorts Tae had bought for him. She guessed what was coming and shut her eyes as he stood and dropped the towel to put the pants on.

"Thanks for the warning"

"I did not see any danger" he said, innocently enough, yet Tae could imagine his words translating to the question of their relationship in general. Now she knew that she was the reason they stayed apart and it was no longer a mutual decision his words stung. She was astute enough to think that Elladan probably meant for his words to be taken in this context and simply sighed in reply.

Elladan, perceptive as ever, caught on to his bed partners uncomfortable sigh and it struck him that his father might have told her of their argument earlier in the day, for it was obvious she knew something. His face took on a thoughtful expression and he was unusually silent as he slipped into bed beside her. She left just as quietly, and went to the bathroom to wash and brush her teeth. When she returned Elladan could smell the sweet mint on her breath and grimaced as she put her back to him to sleep.

"What troubles you?" he asked tentatively

Tae didn't reply at first but contemplated her answer carefully. She felt him lean over as if to check she was awake and she turned over. Their faces were a few inches apart and Tae could see the confusion in his eyes now that she was on her back, underneath him and with a strange look in her eyes.

She stroked his cheek with her fingertips.

"I can't give you what you want Elladan, I can't do it. I…wish I could but I cant, not now"

Elladan shifted his weight and lay back on the bed next to her, his mind a jumble of emotions. He waited until his heart stopped racing before making any comment.

"Why are you saying this?"

Tae nearly crumbled then and there, she could see the confusion and pain in his eyes mixed with what could possibly be called love.

"I need you to know. I can't be the person you want me to be, at least not yet"

Elladan was no fool, he knew what she meant. He knew any distraction for Tae could more than likely prove fatal. It was folly to think they could hold together a relationship built on more than just sex when she was halfway across Middle Earth fighting Serbitar. Elladan refused to consider that he could loose her that way, just as he had put the possibility that she would remain mortal out of his mind. He did the only thing he could do; he got up and went to sleep on the couch in the living room.

When the elf next to her made no move to answer and just left Tae fought the urge to cry. Her words had indeed been blunt, and she felt wretched for bringing the subject of their lack of relationship up again. When she thought of the utter mess of her life a great emptiness welled up inside her chest. A dark cloud of depression sheathed her heart as if somebody had put a plastic bag over her head and was slowly suffocating her. She wondered why she was doing this to herself, she might as well take Serbitar up on his offer and get this all over and done with, never mind what he planned on doing to her. If she did that then she would not have to worry about hurting Elladan's, or indeed, her own feelings and all the elves would be safe.

Yes, maybe that would be best for everybody, if she just disappeared and sorted things with Serbitar without getting the elves involved. Hopefully Serbitar would give her a quick death and keep his word to spare the elves and turn his attention instead to Earth and its malleable humans. It is folly to romanticise that she could kill Serbitar all on her own with nothing but a few cantrips and basic sword moves…


Elladan awoke first in the flat complete with a crick in his neck. His night on the sofa had been uncomfortable, even by the standards of somebody who was used to sleeping on the hard ground under the stars. He rose with a groan and went straight to the bathroom, splashing water in his face in a vain attempt to clear his head. He dreaded seeing Tae again after last night, he knew he had upset her somewhat but was tired of hiding his feelings for her and pretending they were fine just being friends. Usually she was happy to pretend also but something or some one had made her think he needed reminding that 'friends' was all they could be, for the time being at least.

He changed into his new clothes and passed his father on the way out who stopped him with an upraised hand.

"My son"

"Ada?" Elrond looked as if he hadn't slept very well.

"You love her, I see that. But I too worry for her welfare. If you can bring each other comfort in these dark days…I will not stand in the way of your happiness"

Elladan was shocked to say the least to hear that his father had experienced such a dramatic change of heart on the matter. But it still did not give him cheer; it was all very well his father agreeing to his suit…

"I wish she shared your view, Ada. She has made it clear that she would hold back rather than risk any distractions"

"Tis a wise move my son, yet the wise are not always correct in their assumptions" replied the Lord of Rivendell with a pained look

"Tell her that" said Elladan before stalking off to the kitchen.

Elrond wondered at his sons' dejected response. He'd thought Elladan would be happy to hear what he had to say, even if he had only said it in part to keep the peace. True, he had decided to overlook their obvious attraction for each other, but only because their closeness seemed to have a positive effect on both of them. If they were all back in Imladris and there was no Serbitar to contend with, Elrond would have been more than happy for his sons relationship with the girl. However that was not the case. He would rather they had never met at such a time that distractions could be fatal. Say they became lovers, Elrond could not see his elder son letting Tae go off to fight Serbitar alone…At this thought Elrond realised that it was already too late; if Tae left tomorrow Elladan would be right behind her.

The veteran of the Last Alliance went into the sitting room and slumped on a couch; watching the box of moving pictures was cathartic for him, even though he didn't have the magical ring to translate for him.

He began to imagine what his King might have made of the situation, what Celebrian would advise, and thought of how Glorfindel and Erestor were coping in his absence. He smiled as he imagined how Erestor would be handling Glor, never mind the affairs of the refuge. Those two were like chalk and cheese, but on the rare occasions that they behaved Elrond thanked the Valar reverently.

He was still smiling to himself when he heard Elladan's shout.


"She is not moving"

"She is breathing" answered Elrond, trying to calm his pacing son and reassure himself.

"Barely" Elladan added.

Elrond gently tipped her head back and opened her mouth. There was blood in it and her teeth were stained red.

"We must sit her up and clear her airways"

Elladan helped his father and as Tae was brought vertical her jaw sagged and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, dripping down to stain her night-shirt.

"You have not spoken to her since last night?" asked Elrond as he put his finders into the half-elf's mouth and felt for any blockages.

Elladan shook his head and concentrated on moving the stray hairs from the woman's face.

"Did she go to sleep first? Did she not move all night?"

"I…I do not know. I slept in the living room last night. We had words. I did not sense anything wrong with her…at least not physically, when I left. I assumed she would sleep normally"

"You had no reason to think otherwise!" assured Elrond sternly as the eyes of his son took on a hunted look.

"Pass me her ring" continued the elder of the two elves.

"What? Why?" Elladan unfastened the trinket from Tae's chain even as he asked the question.

"I can do no more than keep her breathing, we must find the human healers if we want her to live"

"Father, I do not understand, you have brought people back from unconsciousness before. Why do we need the Edan?" cried Elladan

"Elladan, trust me, please. We have not the time to argue about this. Now, pick her up!"

Elladan complied as if he were in a dream, lifting the unconscious Tae complete with bed cover. He cradled her close and followed his father out of the room; he could hear the rasp of each laboured breath and noticed tiny pink bubbles on her lips. Blood soaked into his new shirt but he was far from caring about a piece of cloth when the woman he loved lay in his arms and he was helpless to treat her. His ears were throbbing and sweat was on his brow, it had been a long time since he felt such fear.

Elrond led them out of the flat and into the car park. There was nobody about so he carried on into the street where there was a couple out walking a dog. He was daunted by the sight of the outside world, he had watched the horseless carriages from the window and they were even more aggressive looking as they sped by next to him. The man and woman looked at him strangely but he approached them nonetheless, mentally checking the translation ring which was secured in one of his braids.

"Please, my daughter is sick. I need a healer"

"Daughter?" asked the man incredulously, he looked at the strange man with long dark hair and did not think him old enough to be the father to the woman another held behind.

"Healer?" asked the woman at the same time. She was wary of these two similar looking men, handsome as they were. She knew Tae through her mother who worked at the Deli underneath her flat, and she remembered hearing that her father had died several years ago. However, the fact that blood was now dribbling form Tae's mouth was enough to overcome her immediate concerns about parentage. The men didn't look like they were from around here.

"You need a doctor. You've rang an ambulance?"

"Am-bulance?" The older looking one frowned as he said the word, the younger one, holding the girl, was getting increasing agitated.

The woman ignored the warning bells in her head and acted on impulse. She took her mobile () from her purse and dialled 999 to order an ambulance. She figured the men were Icelandic; obviously the younger one didn't speak a word of English and the older one…not much at all.

Elrond looked back at his son with a grim smile, it seemed to be working. He could hear the woman describing Tae's symptoms on the speaking device and understood from what the man said that the 'doctors' were coming.

Of course, the elves heard the ambulance sirens before the humans did, and a few minutes later a great carriage with flashing blue lights came into sight, it was moving faster even than a Mearas might. Elrond noticed that the couple seemed relieved when the 'ambulance' pulled up and allowed himself to sigh, at least now they may find out what troubled his young charge and remedy it once and for all.


( We Brits refer to 'cell phones' as mobiles, as in mobile phone)

Sorry if this chapter seems rushed, but I wanted to update before I go on holiday to Spain tomorrow. I'll no doubt be writing loads there just like I did last year, so think of me, sitting on a sun lounger with a glass of Sangria in one hand and a pen in the other. Hope you all have a great summer guys, keep smiling even if it does rain! Sarah.