I have decided to upload some more of Dolegils tale as I see it has been awhile..this is sort of a middle scene..things will speed up some in the next section....!







Dolengil strode down the sparsely filled streets that afternoon, frowning slightly. The air was dry and warm. Too dry and warm for this early in the spring. Was this some new deviltry of the Dark Lord's?

He stopped, at a fruit juice seller's, and quickly drank some refreshing apple juice. Paying the woman, he noticed her listless response. The heat was getting to others, as well.

As he entered into the Halls, and crossed the main examining room grateful for it's emptiness, he was aware of a slight odor of sickness, which was highly unusual for its presence, as the Halls were scrupulously clean.

He went directly to check on Dahanna.

But she was not in the main Hall.

Frowning slightly, he looked for Calla, whom he saw was sponging a soldier's forehead. Observing her gentleness he smiled. With study, Calla would make an excellent healer.

"Good afternoon, Calla. Did you get some rest and food?"

Without turning Calla said, "Yes Master Dolengil. I am rested and I have eaten." She turned as she wrung out the cloth. "And yourself?"

"The same. Where is Dahanna?"

Calla dropped the cloth into the bowl with the peppermint oil and said with a sigh. "I just thought, to allow her the peace and quiet she needs, I had her put in one of the small rooms just off the main examining room."

"Out of sight; out of mind." He turned to go examine her and Calla added as he left. "I put Keppi in the room with her too."

Nodding, he went to the small rooms and easily discovered which one contained Dahanna. Still asleep, he examined her broken leg, which was propped by a pillow. Everything seemed to be going at an even keel with her.

Keppi was awake and playing with her dolly. She looked up from the small pallet and Dolengil squatted down and placed a hand on Keppi's forehead. She silently popped a hand in her mouth and looked at him wide-eyed. He was glad to see her fever had gone. Though her breathing was still a little raspy, it had eased up considerably. By morning she would be able to go back to the woman who watched her. Noticing that Calla had not only dressed her in her clean chemise, but had brought a plate of food suitable for a three-year-old, he patted Keppi on the head and left quietly.

As he walked down the Hall, he realized with a sigh, he needed to check on Arallis Farahin. Moving smoothly through the pallets of the injured, he noticed that Arallis must have been moved as well.

Raising his voice to carry over several rows he asked Calla, "And did Lord Farahin get moved as well?"

Calla looked up and frowning slightly, glanced around. "Well, Master, I did not order his movement. I shall go inquire."

Dolengil went and checked on the progress of his other patients. Calla joined him as he finished changing a bandaged shoulder on a thin, young soldier who seemed embarrassed by the attention. As he lay the soldier back, the boy spoke up, "Thank you Master. It doesn't hurt that much." Knowing that the young man was dealing with a spear thrust, Dolengil paused a moment to send some healing energy to the wound and smiled as the soldier sighed in relief.

"Yes Calla, what did you discovered?"

Smiling, she led Dolengil to a quiet corner where a table holding bowls of steaming herbal washes stood, she said quietly. "While you and I were gone, the parents persuaded Master Parnil to let Arallis go home."

Sighing loudly, Dolengil looked at Calla and shook his head. "Well upon their heads so be it. I made my wishes clear."

"Indeed Master Dolengil."

Not happy about Arallis, but realizing little could be done, Dolengil went back to his tasks.

But as the evening wore on, Dolengil began to notice more of his patients were restless in the heat that seemed to settle in the Hall. And though the linen maids were diligent in cleaning the Hall, he noticed the rising odor of sickness as well.

Grateful there was a lull in battle, few patients were brought to the Halls that evening and when the sun came up, though still disturbed by the changes in the Halls, Dolengil went to his rest with an easy mind.

A few days went by, and Dolengil noticed the rise of simple illness in the Halls. The battle wounded came in waves, as usual, but he noticed those coming in with chest pains, nausea, headache, and other signs of sickness were growing in number.

Dahanna was recovering well in her small room, which remained cool because of the hallway outside. Only a hanging of linen kept out the curious.

As Calla was taking away the mid day meal tray from Dahanna, Dahanna asked, "Do you think maybe I could go home soon Calla? I am, well, I feel so useless just lying here. I do not read or sew or embroider...at home I would have Keppi to watch..."

"But surely Keppi is too much for you to handle right now Dahanna? You won't be able to get out of bed to keep her out of mischief."

"I know, I know...perhaps Mistress Creevy can keep an eye on us both."

"Well, I could ask Master Dolengil."

"Thank you Calla!"

Calla, carrying the tray back to the kitchens, winced at the bright afternoon sunlight shining in the courtyard as she crossed the warm stones. Coughing slightly, she entered the bustling kitchens and put the tray with the other incoming dirty dishes and turned to leave. Frowning, she noticed one of the washers, leaning over one of the rinse tubs and coughing hard. Rubbing her forehead, she went up to the young boy and put a hand on his back. "Orlas, are you all right?"

"I-I am fine...just a nasty cough...I'll be over it in a minute."

"All right. But if it persists, come into the Halls, we have cough syrup."

"Thanks." His cough petered off and he stood with a smile and then got back to work.

Calla went thoughtfully back into the Halls. Going through the supply room, she entered the stillroom to check on the amounts of cough syrups and fever reducers. She found Dolengil bent over a workable measuring a deep brown tincture, which from the smell, was the basis for an anti-nausea cordial.

"Master, I---" He turned at her voice, and Calla was pleasantly surprised to see he had let down the cloth that covered the lower part of his face. His features were quite handsome, if a bit austere. Arching a characteristic eyebrow at her he said, "Yes Calla, what can I do for you?"

"Well Master, there are a few things. First, Dahanna would like to go home, and I have noticed a lot of coughs in the last day or so. And, and, I am glad to see you!"

Dolegil laughed. "Yes, I do not usually show my face, but the heat being what it is and the privacy here allowed me a respite." She smiled at him and nodded. He turned back to measuring the cordial and said, frowning slightly "I have noticed the rise in just plain illness here myself. I am making sure we have enough cordials to cover various ills. As for mistress Bellin, I worry that not being able to get about will frustrate her, giving her a chance to re-injure herself, especially taking care of her child."

"She told me she would have mistress Creevy keep an eye on both of them." Calla looked at the floor. "I-I think it would be better for her Master. Not only for her, but to avoid any more trouble with the under-steward."

"Yes, our officious Lord Dowhel. He has been thankfully absent these last few days. All right Calla, go tell Dahanna this evening, I will take her back to her rooms."

"Oh no need to do it yourself Master, I shall get a horse and cart."

Dolengil put a hand on her shoulder. "She is no burden Calla. And my carrying her will be much easier on her injury than bouncing about in a cart."

"As you will, Master. I shall go tell her."

Nodding, he turned back to his work, frowning as he heard Calla muffle a cough out in the corridor.



Dolengil was still catching up with making medicines in the still room, when he heard a commotion outside, coming from the courtyard. Calla came running in and said, "Master Dolengil, Lord Aragorn----"

"I can speak for myself mistress." Aragorn smiling, strode into the still room. Dolengil had turned immediately on his entrance, realizing with a sinking heart, his face was still uncovered.

Moving swiftly, as he was not ready for Aragorn to recognize him, he told Calla, "Could you please go to the kitchens and get something for Lord Aragorn to eat? I am sure he is hungry and thirsty."

Nodding, Calla left, coughing.

Aragorn, struck dumb by the appearance of his father just stood, mouth open. Luckily, his retainers could not see past their commander filling the doorway. Dolengil, about to tell them all to leave, was saved from that by Aragorn turning and saying slowly, "I would have words with the healer Dolengil alone. Please go refresh yourselves. I shall join you shortly with what I can discover here."

Dolengil smiled tiredly at Aragorn's back. Indeed!

Once they were alone, Elrond indicated with a hand, a chair next to his and Aragorn mesmerized, just sat.

"Ada? I am not dreaming?"

Elrond stared at his foster son, his face alight with love. But now was not the time for distracting revelations. Not with an epidemic threatening.

"Estel. My son, look at me."

"Ada..." Aragorn leaned forward, his tired face relaxing into a wide smile, "Ada, I do not know how you got here but I am so glad to see you." He stood and wrapped his arms around his foster father. Elrond, unable to resist, returned his warm embrace, his eyes closed tightly. Getting Aragorn to sit again, Elrond pulled his chair close to his and leaned forward, laying his hands on Aragorn's shoulders.

"My son," he repeated, "look at me."

Elrond's intense gaze, catching the light from the nearby hanging oil lamp locked with Aragorns' and filled his vision. Raising his hands to place them on either side of Aragorns' face he said softly, "Estel, you will forget you saw me today. Completely. I am not here. I am only the healer Dolengil, nothing more, nothing less."

Aragorn, mesmerized, did not blink. But a tear appeared and dripped down his face. Elrond leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead. Brushing a hand down his cheek, Elrond sat back and slowly turned back to his distillations.

"You were saying my lord?"

"I-I," Aragorn wiped his face, confused and looked at the finger where the tear lingered. "I came here to tell you that-that the healers on the field believe the Dark Lord has produced conditions ideal for an epidemic of some kind. The dry weather and dust and the fact there have been lots of lung complaints."

"It is the same conclusion I have drawn my lord. We have seen a higher number of the sick here as well. You see I am here already making sure we will have enough medicines to weather the storm."

"My thanks then." Aragorn got up slowly and looked into the unreadable eyes of the now customarily covered Dolengil. A moment's silence and then he went out.

Dolengil slumped down to his chair, his head in his hands.