Elrond woke

Ok, I know it's short, but I felt guilty for not updating in so long and wanted to give you folks something. Besides, I think this little dialogue is both cute and enlightening. I also enjoyed writing it. How I love Elrond when he's flustered! Anyway, yes, I will bring you the next chapter soon, I promise! I was in Florida for two weeks and couldn't update. They'll come quicker from now on, really!

Rubies and Fire

Elrond woke. This time not to black shapes hovering all around him, but to the first rays of dawn straying between the curtains and falling limpid and pale across his face. Repugnant of daylight's touch, he leapt off the bed and savagely jerked the curtains closed. He stood in his darkened room for a moment after that, trying to figure out what was wrong with him. At last, his memory cooperated and everything came flooding back.

Did all of it really happen? Or have I been delusional all this time. Perhaps it was nothing more than a dream. Maybe I'm still dreaming.

Lord Elrond rubbed his forehead and leaned against the cool stone wall. When he opened his eyes, he found they were still unnaturally sharp in the darkness. He stared, dumbfounded at what he saw.

All along the white walls of his chamber, everywhere there had been a candle, he now saw towering scorch marks. Like fat black arrows they made a deranged zebra stripe pattern across the alabaster stone. All the candles were gone, incinerated by their own flames the night before. Most of his lamps lay in shattered pieces on the floor, blown apart by the explosive force of the red-haired queen's memories. Elrond looked at his bed, seeing the red rubies and bloody crescents and holes through the sheets.

The elf lord sank to the floor, overwhelmed with the realization that all the events of the last few days had truly come to pass. When he felt calm again, he meditated over what exactly he should do. Should he tell the inhabitants of Rivendell about NoireRae? How much did they need to know? What would they think of him inviting a vampire to return to his house? Elrond mused for several minutes before he decided it would be best not to mention any of it to anyone. Perhaps to Glorfindel when he returned, but no one else, not now. The situation was too strange, and Elrond felt there was no danger to his people since NoireRae had promised not to feed on the elves of Imladris.

Content with his decision, the master of Rivendell rose. He busied himself with his usual morning ablutions, then changed into fresh clothes. When he felt awake and refreshed, though still slightly dazed from lack of sleep, he prepared to do away with the evidence of last night's turbulent occurrences.

First, he removed the rubies and safely stowed them away. Then, reaching out with his thought and gathering a bit of elven power to him, Elrond concentrated on the sheets. The torn fibers came back together and the bloodstains disappeared at his command. In fact, the whole bed cheerfully obliged and made itself. The covers smoothed and straightened on their own while the pillows fluffed themselves.

"Excellent," he said as he focused his attention on the scorched walls. The dark remains of last night's blaze faded to white when he bade them do so. All the broken lamps remade themselves piece by piece, as if Elrond had the power to unwind the wheel of time and un-shatter the glinting shards. "Very good," Elrond smiled.

That task completed, Elrond left his room, determined to carry on his day as normally as he could, considering the highly abnormal circumstance he was in. The first person he came across happened to be the head caretaker of the Rooms of Healing.

"Oh, Lord Elrond!" she greeted him and bowed her head in respect. He acknowledged her with a smile.

"Tell me, Lady, do you never sleep?" he teased gently. She eyed him curiously, but smiled nonetheless.

"Well, you seem to be in a good mood today, my lord. I'm glad of it. I was just on my way to tell you something I hope will lighten your mood even more."

"Oh really? And what might that be?"

"Your little maid, Sir, the one you appear to be particularly fond of, has begun a steady recovery." Elrond nearly faltered for just a moment in the face of such unabashed recognition of his feelings for Narwen.

"Wh- And just what makes you think I'm so 'particularly' fond of her, as you put it?" he queried in return. The caretaker lifted an eyebrow and raised her chin at him, letting Elrond know not even an elf lord could fool an experienced matron like herself.

"For one thing," she stated firmly, "You just tried to pretend you're not fond of her. Secondly, I couldn't drag you away from her side yesterday." The head caretaker couldn't stop a little smile from making a place for itself on her visage. She even allowed herself a polite chuckle.

"Yes, well," Elrond knew he'd just lost the game, but decided to play a while longer anyway. "I suppose some people might consider that a show of affection," he said while maneuvering around the caretaker toward the Rooms of Healing. She circled with him like a duelist.

"Yes, some people might also consider that a show of devotion." Her verbal thrust landed home and rewarded her with a slight blush from her lord.

"Indeed, I suppose some people might see it that way," he conceded. After a brief pause, he turned to her in all honesty. "My lady, I know you see many things. But, will you promise your lord not to speak your thoughts?" The head caretaker's smile softened and when she spoke it was with sincerity.

"My dear Master Elrond, I swear no indiscretions shall pass my lips. But I cannot undo what is already done. Even now, rumors and speculations about your fuss over the girl yesterday are flying through Imladris. I can implore the nurses under my supervision to keep quiet, but I doubt it will do much good. Gandalf the Grey once said that some elves have over-merry tongues. The truth is, all elves have over merry tongues."

Elrond laughed.

"Alright then. I release you from your promise. If my people are going to talk at least let them have a reliable source of information. Now, may I escort you back to the Rooms, or do you have another errand?"

"Even if I did have another errand, do you think I wouldn't put it off for the opportunity to walk beside you, my lord?" She smiled brightly as she took his arm.

"How fortunate I am to have such devoted elves in my service," he smiled back.

Together they strode down the hall toward the Rooms of Healing, and toward a certain maiden whom the lord of Rivendell admitted to being "particularly" fond of.