Didn't want you hanging too long with this.I don't know, I may not be able
to avoid seriousness eventually..as we all know how Elrond really felt
about Aragorn and Arwen...but I shall see(
The icy water hit Aragorn like a slap and he swam against the foaming current gasping. Fighting the river, it took him almost 20 minutes to reach Elrond. With a cry of horror, Aragorn saw that Elrond was unconscious, a bad gash on his forehead.
Luckily Elrond had not been pulled downstream, as his jerkin had gotten snagged by the broken staves of the weir, and he had been wedged by the buffeting of the river.
Pushing against the weir himself, gave Aragorn enough time to untangle the elf lord from the broken weir and fling him over his shoulder. Situating himself carefully and using the force of the water to hold him in place, Aragorn untied the rope around his waist and retied it around Elrond and himself.
Taking a deep breath, he plunged back into the river.
The force of the water pulled him to the limits of the rope and clutching his father with one arm, he tried to make headway towards the shore. Dunked constantly by the roiling Bruinen, he fought blinding waves and worked hard to not swallow too much water.
As he struggled, Glorfindel rode up with four other elves and Arwen, who immediately uncoiled ropes and flung them to Aragorn.
Grabbing what he could reach, he held on tightly as the five elves pulled him towards shore. Wincing as he banged against hidden rocks, he grimly held on until he found himself pulled onto the shore. Arwen was there tears in her eyes, as she helped untie Elrond and lay him on the shore.
"Ada! Can you hear me?"
"Arwen, Arwen love." Aragorn coughed out some water. "He-he's had a knock to the head. Let us get him back to the House.."
Aragorn lay there gasping as the others lifted Elrond, giving him to Glorfindel, who dashed off in full gallop.
Arwen, about to remount, turned and helped the shivering Aragorn stand. Putting her arms around him, he hugged her back. She looked up at him and he kissed her, brushing wet hair out of her eyes. "Do not worry my love, he'll be fine."
Nodding, she kissed him again, heedless of the eyes of the other elves and whispered, "Thank you Aragorn. Thank you!" She pulled out of his embrace and remounted her horse. With a wave back to him, she dashed after Glorfindel.
Aragorn tiredly pulled himself into the saddle and rode off after the other elves, now numb with cold.
He was the last to ride into the stables, dizzy with exhaustion. Cerwal silently took his equally tired horse and Aragorn, with the last of his energy, sprinted for the House.
Before he changed, he went to Elrond's suite of rooms.
There was a crowd of elves around the double doors, which parted silently for Aragorn, a few, placing hands on his shoulders silently. He smiled at their worried faces, entered and closed the door softly behind him.
Glorfindel had just finished undressing Elrond with Arwen's help and then backed away to let the healer Isingal carefully examine the unconscious elf lord. Aragorn watched silently, waiting for the diagnosis.
"My lords, and lady, he has a concussion and will likely sleep until tomorrow. The wound on his forehead is superficial. I can find no other signs of trauma: no broken bones or ligaments. He will probably have a few bruises."
A deep sigh went around the room. Isingal carefully salved and bandaged the cut. Glorfindel then wrapped up Elrond in a soft, thick quilt and stepped away. Arwen bent and kissed her father on the forehead. Turning, she grabbed a nearby chair and looked at the others. "I shall sit here until he awakes."
"But, my lady, that might be awhile." Isingal exclaimed.
"Nevertheless, I shall."
Glorfindel and Isingal nodded and bowing slightly, left the room, Glorfindel only pausing to say to Aragorn, "Thank you Estel for your quick work."
Nodding tiredly, Aragorn clapped him on the back "And thank you for your speedy aid!"
The two elves left.
The fire in the grate crackling to itself was the only sound for sometime, other than an occasional drip of water from Aragorn's soggy clothes. Weaving on his feet, Aragorn was just about to leave, when Arwen said in a small voice, "Oh, don't go!"
Coming over to her, he put a hand on her shoulder, which she covered with one of her own.
He stared down into the peaceful face of his foster-father and sighed. The bandage was so ugly and unexpected against his pale and beautiful features, that Aragorn found tears pricking his eyes. Bending to kiss his father, he stood and turned to Arwen, picking up her hand on the coverlet and giving it a squeeze. "I must get out of these clothes. I shall return in a little while."
Her eyes never leaving her father's face, Arwen just nodded and he left.
Thankfully, the hall outside was empty and Aragorn was able to stumble to his room unhindered.
But the hot bath had felt so good, that as he dressed, he had fallen across his bed asleep.
His room was dark when he awoke, with head pounding. Adjusting his long deep blue robe, Aragorn, quickly threw cold water on his face to wake up more fully and then went to Elrond's rooms.
Opening the door quietly, he found Arwen asleep, half in her chair, half on the bed, holding her father's hand, her river of dark hair practically covering her face. The room was lit only by a slowly burning candle on Arwen's side of the bed and the low glow from the fireplace.
Smiling, he came up to her, brushed her hair back and kissed her cheek. Seeing there was room enough for Arwen, he picked her up carefully and laid her next to her father. Sighing, she curled up, head to Elrond's shoulder. He slipped her shoes off and pulled another quilt out of the linen chest at the end of the bed and placed it over her. Then throwing a few more logs on the glowing coals, he built up the fire.
The slow steady rhythm of his father's pulse comforted him, so he went, sat in Arwen's chair and lay his head back against the high back, his gaze on the two elves, lit by the large candle.
What would Elrond think of he and Arwen's love? Would he be upset? Her immortality and his mortality: would these be insurmountable obstacles? He had never thought about it, but might there be an arranged marriage between Arwen and someone? But who? She had not mentioned any, nor had he heard his father discuss it. Sighing, he leaned forward, elbows on thighs, hands clasped before him. Maybe Elrond would not think him worthy, because he was mortal? But someday, if all went right, he would be king of a united Gondor and Arnor. Surely this would be worthwhile in his father's eyes?
Rubbing his hand across his forehead and wincing at the headache pounding behind his eyes, he leaned back again in the chair. Well, these things could not be answered now.
But it was long time before sleep came.
Morning sunlight slid into the room, running on golden feet across the three sleepers. Arwen still lay next to Elrond and Aragorn was slumped in the chair, mouth slightly open, long hair half way across his face.
Elrond woke first, squinting at the shaft of bright gold across his waist. He brought a hand up to his head and winced at the rapidly healing gash. Then his eyes fell on his daughter, curled at his side. Moving very carefully, he bent and kissed her, running a hand across her cheek. She sighed and smiled in her sleep.
Then Elrond's glance fell on Estel, sitting uncomfortably in the high backed chair. His eyes softened at his foster son. But then a little thought nibbled at Elrond's complacency: Why was Estel in here as well as Arwen? Surely his injuries were not that grievous? Moving and stretching slowly, Elrond found nothing worse than a few bruises, one rather nasty one on his left side. No broken bones, no internal injuries. Just the concussion that had rendered him unconscious, and the nasty gash.
He looked at the two sleepers, tilting his head in question. Perhaps there was something else going on here? He had noticed their affection recently but just assumed it was a natural response to having "discovered" each other after all this time. Estel was a nice looking young man for a human and was filling out well. There could---
Just then, Aragorn groaned in his sleep and Elrond deciding quickly to watch the two unguarded, slipped down under his quilt and feigned sleep. His left his eyes half open so Aragorn would think he was now sleeping normally.
Aragorn stretched and coughed, running a hand across his forehead. Oh good, a cold! Rubbing his stuffed nose a few times, he got out of the chair and looked at the two sleeping elves. Elrond was at last sleeping normally, which meant he might waken soon as he was ever the early riser.
And Arwen. He paused, smiling fondly and brushed her tangled hair across her face. He bent and kissed her cheek.
Arwen awoke with that, happy to find the face of her beloved leaning over her. Raising a hand, she sat and brought her mouth up to Aragorn's and kissed him deeply. Everything was going to be fine now---
Elrond believed he had seen enough. "Good morning my children."
Arwen and Aragorn sprang apart, Aragorn going so far as to hit the chair and drop ungracefully to the floor. Scrambling to stand, he brushed his hair out of his face and bowed slightly, feeling himself blushing. Damn! "Ada! It is good to see you awake!!"
"Father! You are all right! How do you feel?" Arwen turned to Elrond and kissed him on the cheek. He almost pulled away, but stopped himself and kissed her back. What in the name of all the Valar was going on here??
Arwen stood quickly next to Aragorn, eyes wide, a big smile pasted on her face. Oh dear, does Ada know now?
Aragorn, nervous, got a coughing fit and turned away slightly. Oh no, if Ada had had any suspicions previously, there would be no doubt now.
Elrond sat up with a deep sigh. "If you will allow me a few moments, I will wash up and get dressed.
"Surely Ada, you should stay in bed this day. Just to make sure you are completely recovered. That's a bad cut on your forehead," Arwen rushed to his side, reaching out with a hand to stay his rising.
Elrond almost allowed himself to grin, but knowing that they were actually concerned for his well being, sat against the head board. "All right both of you. I shall remain in bed until this evening. Estel, if you would be so kind as to get me a sleeping tunic?"
"Certainly Ada."
"Arwen, if you would go find me something light to eat in the kitchens?"
"Right away Ada!" Arwen disappeared like a sprite.
As Aragorn handed his father the tunic, he bit his lip and said. "Do you require anything else from me?"
Elrond paused as he put on the tunic. Adjusting it and making himself comfortable, he let the silence draw out to a thin thread and finally replied dryly, "At the moment, nothing else Estel."
He looked deep into his son's eyes. "But perhaps, later."
"Yes Ada." Aragorn had no doubts as to "later." He bowed and nervously went to the door.
Before he left, Elrond added, "And please, take some willow bark tea for that cold Estel."
"Yes-ACHooo!---of course father!"
He practically ran out of the door.
Elrond leaned back and stared sightless at the door. Yawning, he slid back under the covers. He had much thinking to do.
The icy water hit Aragorn like a slap and he swam against the foaming current gasping. Fighting the river, it took him almost 20 minutes to reach Elrond. With a cry of horror, Aragorn saw that Elrond was unconscious, a bad gash on his forehead.
Luckily Elrond had not been pulled downstream, as his jerkin had gotten snagged by the broken staves of the weir, and he had been wedged by the buffeting of the river.
Pushing against the weir himself, gave Aragorn enough time to untangle the elf lord from the broken weir and fling him over his shoulder. Situating himself carefully and using the force of the water to hold him in place, Aragorn untied the rope around his waist and retied it around Elrond and himself.
Taking a deep breath, he plunged back into the river.
The force of the water pulled him to the limits of the rope and clutching his father with one arm, he tried to make headway towards the shore. Dunked constantly by the roiling Bruinen, he fought blinding waves and worked hard to not swallow too much water.
As he struggled, Glorfindel rode up with four other elves and Arwen, who immediately uncoiled ropes and flung them to Aragorn.
Grabbing what he could reach, he held on tightly as the five elves pulled him towards shore. Wincing as he banged against hidden rocks, he grimly held on until he found himself pulled onto the shore. Arwen was there tears in her eyes, as she helped untie Elrond and lay him on the shore.
"Ada! Can you hear me?"
"Arwen, Arwen love." Aragorn coughed out some water. "He-he's had a knock to the head. Let us get him back to the House.."
Aragorn lay there gasping as the others lifted Elrond, giving him to Glorfindel, who dashed off in full gallop.
Arwen, about to remount, turned and helped the shivering Aragorn stand. Putting her arms around him, he hugged her back. She looked up at him and he kissed her, brushing wet hair out of her eyes. "Do not worry my love, he'll be fine."
Nodding, she kissed him again, heedless of the eyes of the other elves and whispered, "Thank you Aragorn. Thank you!" She pulled out of his embrace and remounted her horse. With a wave back to him, she dashed after Glorfindel.
Aragorn tiredly pulled himself into the saddle and rode off after the other elves, now numb with cold.
He was the last to ride into the stables, dizzy with exhaustion. Cerwal silently took his equally tired horse and Aragorn, with the last of his energy, sprinted for the House.
Before he changed, he went to Elrond's suite of rooms.
There was a crowd of elves around the double doors, which parted silently for Aragorn, a few, placing hands on his shoulders silently. He smiled at their worried faces, entered and closed the door softly behind him.
Glorfindel had just finished undressing Elrond with Arwen's help and then backed away to let the healer Isingal carefully examine the unconscious elf lord. Aragorn watched silently, waiting for the diagnosis.
"My lords, and lady, he has a concussion and will likely sleep until tomorrow. The wound on his forehead is superficial. I can find no other signs of trauma: no broken bones or ligaments. He will probably have a few bruises."
A deep sigh went around the room. Isingal carefully salved and bandaged the cut. Glorfindel then wrapped up Elrond in a soft, thick quilt and stepped away. Arwen bent and kissed her father on the forehead. Turning, she grabbed a nearby chair and looked at the others. "I shall sit here until he awakes."
"But, my lady, that might be awhile." Isingal exclaimed.
"Nevertheless, I shall."
Glorfindel and Isingal nodded and bowing slightly, left the room, Glorfindel only pausing to say to Aragorn, "Thank you Estel for your quick work."
Nodding tiredly, Aragorn clapped him on the back "And thank you for your speedy aid!"
The two elves left.
The fire in the grate crackling to itself was the only sound for sometime, other than an occasional drip of water from Aragorn's soggy clothes. Weaving on his feet, Aragorn was just about to leave, when Arwen said in a small voice, "Oh, don't go!"
Coming over to her, he put a hand on her shoulder, which she covered with one of her own.
He stared down into the peaceful face of his foster-father and sighed. The bandage was so ugly and unexpected against his pale and beautiful features, that Aragorn found tears pricking his eyes. Bending to kiss his father, he stood and turned to Arwen, picking up her hand on the coverlet and giving it a squeeze. "I must get out of these clothes. I shall return in a little while."
Her eyes never leaving her father's face, Arwen just nodded and he left.
Thankfully, the hall outside was empty and Aragorn was able to stumble to his room unhindered.
But the hot bath had felt so good, that as he dressed, he had fallen across his bed asleep.
His room was dark when he awoke, with head pounding. Adjusting his long deep blue robe, Aragorn, quickly threw cold water on his face to wake up more fully and then went to Elrond's rooms.
Opening the door quietly, he found Arwen asleep, half in her chair, half on the bed, holding her father's hand, her river of dark hair practically covering her face. The room was lit only by a slowly burning candle on Arwen's side of the bed and the low glow from the fireplace.
Smiling, he came up to her, brushed her hair back and kissed her cheek. Seeing there was room enough for Arwen, he picked her up carefully and laid her next to her father. Sighing, she curled up, head to Elrond's shoulder. He slipped her shoes off and pulled another quilt out of the linen chest at the end of the bed and placed it over her. Then throwing a few more logs on the glowing coals, he built up the fire.
The slow steady rhythm of his father's pulse comforted him, so he went, sat in Arwen's chair and lay his head back against the high back, his gaze on the two elves, lit by the large candle.
What would Elrond think of he and Arwen's love? Would he be upset? Her immortality and his mortality: would these be insurmountable obstacles? He had never thought about it, but might there be an arranged marriage between Arwen and someone? But who? She had not mentioned any, nor had he heard his father discuss it. Sighing, he leaned forward, elbows on thighs, hands clasped before him. Maybe Elrond would not think him worthy, because he was mortal? But someday, if all went right, he would be king of a united Gondor and Arnor. Surely this would be worthwhile in his father's eyes?
Rubbing his hand across his forehead and wincing at the headache pounding behind his eyes, he leaned back again in the chair. Well, these things could not be answered now.
But it was long time before sleep came.
Morning sunlight slid into the room, running on golden feet across the three sleepers. Arwen still lay next to Elrond and Aragorn was slumped in the chair, mouth slightly open, long hair half way across his face.
Elrond woke first, squinting at the shaft of bright gold across his waist. He brought a hand up to his head and winced at the rapidly healing gash. Then his eyes fell on his daughter, curled at his side. Moving very carefully, he bent and kissed her, running a hand across her cheek. She sighed and smiled in her sleep.
Then Elrond's glance fell on Estel, sitting uncomfortably in the high backed chair. His eyes softened at his foster son. But then a little thought nibbled at Elrond's complacency: Why was Estel in here as well as Arwen? Surely his injuries were not that grievous? Moving and stretching slowly, Elrond found nothing worse than a few bruises, one rather nasty one on his left side. No broken bones, no internal injuries. Just the concussion that had rendered him unconscious, and the nasty gash.
He looked at the two sleepers, tilting his head in question. Perhaps there was something else going on here? He had noticed their affection recently but just assumed it was a natural response to having "discovered" each other after all this time. Estel was a nice looking young man for a human and was filling out well. There could---
Just then, Aragorn groaned in his sleep and Elrond deciding quickly to watch the two unguarded, slipped down under his quilt and feigned sleep. His left his eyes half open so Aragorn would think he was now sleeping normally.
Aragorn stretched and coughed, running a hand across his forehead. Oh good, a cold! Rubbing his stuffed nose a few times, he got out of the chair and looked at the two sleeping elves. Elrond was at last sleeping normally, which meant he might waken soon as he was ever the early riser.
And Arwen. He paused, smiling fondly and brushed her tangled hair across her face. He bent and kissed her cheek.
Arwen awoke with that, happy to find the face of her beloved leaning over her. Raising a hand, she sat and brought her mouth up to Aragorn's and kissed him deeply. Everything was going to be fine now---
Elrond believed he had seen enough. "Good morning my children."
Arwen and Aragorn sprang apart, Aragorn going so far as to hit the chair and drop ungracefully to the floor. Scrambling to stand, he brushed his hair out of his face and bowed slightly, feeling himself blushing. Damn! "Ada! It is good to see you awake!!"
"Father! You are all right! How do you feel?" Arwen turned to Elrond and kissed him on the cheek. He almost pulled away, but stopped himself and kissed her back. What in the name of all the Valar was going on here??
Arwen stood quickly next to Aragorn, eyes wide, a big smile pasted on her face. Oh dear, does Ada know now?
Aragorn, nervous, got a coughing fit and turned away slightly. Oh no, if Ada had had any suspicions previously, there would be no doubt now.
Elrond sat up with a deep sigh. "If you will allow me a few moments, I will wash up and get dressed.
"Surely Ada, you should stay in bed this day. Just to make sure you are completely recovered. That's a bad cut on your forehead," Arwen rushed to his side, reaching out with a hand to stay his rising.
Elrond almost allowed himself to grin, but knowing that they were actually concerned for his well being, sat against the head board. "All right both of you. I shall remain in bed until this evening. Estel, if you would be so kind as to get me a sleeping tunic?"
"Certainly Ada."
"Arwen, if you would go find me something light to eat in the kitchens?"
"Right away Ada!" Arwen disappeared like a sprite.
As Aragorn handed his father the tunic, he bit his lip and said. "Do you require anything else from me?"
Elrond paused as he put on the tunic. Adjusting it and making himself comfortable, he let the silence draw out to a thin thread and finally replied dryly, "At the moment, nothing else Estel."
He looked deep into his son's eyes. "But perhaps, later."
"Yes Ada." Aragorn had no doubts as to "later." He bowed and nervously went to the door.
Before he left, Elrond added, "And please, take some willow bark tea for that cold Estel."
"Yes-ACHooo!---of course father!"
He practically ran out of the door.
Elrond leaned back and stared sightless at the door. Yawning, he slid back under the covers. He had much thinking to do.
