Elrond and his sons ambled along the road that led from the High House down
along the Bruinen watching idly the hoof prints of his wife and daughter's
mounts. Easily noting the place where they turned off, Elrond pulled his
stallion's head to the left, his sons close behind. The three elves kicked
their complacent mounts into a trot and followed the two she-elves' route
into the woods that crowded up against the western wall of the gorge.
Celebrian bit her lip as she held her daughter upright on her pony and led her mare behind her. How tangled this all was! It was obvious the man had been hunting to provide for he and his wife and Arwen had just picked the wrong time to run. Celebrian closed her yes, tears gathering at the corners. But he could have killed her baby! She hugged the semi- conscious 10-year-old and hurried her steps. Well, she had promised to send someone back for the wounded man and his wife.
What a terrible mess! Two days before the Eve of Yule!
Elrond was laughing as Elladan recounted a hunting story, when all three stopped and listened.
Celebrian! Elrond spurred his horse into a dead run, his sons behind him. Something was very wrong! Arwen?
The elf lord's face went grim as leaned down closer to the neck of his stallion Rhean, his hair and cape flying like a midnight banners in a high wind. All three had drawn their swords and were ready to take on anything.
Except the sight of their sister leaning over her pony, her right shoulder dark red with blood.
Elrond, noting his wife's tearful face, sheathed his sword and leapt from the horse before it even stopped. Running over the snow, he careful picked up Arwen who murmured, "Ada, I am-I am shot by an arrow."
"Shh, sweetheart. Ada is here." Looking at his wife, she pulled herself up and wiped her face.
"We were hunting the deer she had tracked yesterday. We found her, but so had another hunter. One who has a young wife who is very much with child. Oh Elrond, Arwen ran just as the young man let loose his arrow! She could have died!" Celebrian put a hand to her mouth and dropped her head.
Holding his child in one arm, he swiftly put his other around his distraught wife and kissed her on the forehead. "All will be well Celebrian, I swear this."
Looking up at his sons, his own eyes suspiciously moist he indicated with a toss of his head. "Find the wounded hunter and his wife. We cannot leave them out here. It is going to snow soon."
The shocked twins, nodded and slowly followed their mother's tracks back to the woodland glade.
Elrond handed Arwen to his wife, mounted Rhean and then took her back. Waiting for her to remount he nodded once, spoke to his stallion and took off in a flurry of snow, Celebrian right behind him.
Lallayn was hugging her husband, who had fallen unconscious when Elladan and Elrohir rode up.
Both dismounted and slowly approached the couple. Lallayn just stared at the two.
Elladan spoke up quietly. "Our father has sent us to take you back to Rivendell where both of you will be cared for. Come, we mean you no harm."
Lallayn tried to keep her eyes on both young men (their hoods were up and she could not see their ears). Did he mean what he said? Rivendell? Lallalyn had heard of Rivendell. It was some kind of secret place where elves...lived. She brought a hand to her mouth! Then these were elves? She scrambled to her feet, wincing at her cold feet. She fell back against a nearby tree and then bit her lip. The two cloaked elves had moved closer to them.
Lallalyn shivered in her cloak and backed up a few feet more, and then realized she was leaving her husband to their mercy. Oh no! She went forward again but by that time, the silent of the two had bent down and easily picked up Pallan and went over to his horse, putting the injured human in his saddle and then vaulting easily behind him. He turned to look at them.
Elladan held out a hand to the frightened woman. "Come my lady. You need to get out of the cold." He stepped closer to her and Lallalyn torn between fear and relief found herself unable to move.
That was all the time Elladan needed and he quickly picked her up and went back to his horse, sliding her carefully onto the saddle. Mounting behind her, he then picked her up and carried her across his lap as he knew riding astride would not be comfortable in her condition.
Clucking to their horses the foursome rode off. Lallalyn looked up at the elf holding her and he smiled down at her as he skillfully made his way through the trees.
"And your name my lady?"
"I-I am Lallalyn and my husband is Pallan. We were headed to Bree and got lost."
Elladan nodded. Never having handled a pregnant woman before, he put a gentle hand in wonder on her firm round belly. "Perhaps my judgment is faulty, but by your condition I would say your time is near. Why would you be traveling now?"
Lallalyn sighed. "Pallan had no work and we thought we could make it before the baby came. I am all right at the moment. Just tired and cold."
Elladan smiled at the small human woman and adjusted her more comfortably in his arms.
"Well you will find rest in Rivendell Lallayn. We will be there shortly."
Lallalyn was silent for a while and then, smiled suddenly. Soft fat flakes of snow drifted down to her face. She had always liked the snow, and now, she was relieved she would not have to sleep in it tonight. Perhaps the elves would let them sleep in the barn with the horses.
Sighing deeply, she drifted off to sleep.
Elladan grinned down at his suddenly slumbering charge and spurred his stallion into a canter.
Arwen woke up slowly and immediately began to cry though she did not want to. But her shoulder hurt. She tried to gulp back her sobs but couldn't. "Oww! Ada! Ada!! My shoulder really, really hurts!" She squirmed and tried to sit up.
"We are almost home, princess. Shh." Elrond bent and kissed his daughter's clammy forehead, sending her to back to sleep. His expression grew more grim as they neared the bridge over the Bruinen. And how had a human couple gotten so close to Rivendell without the guard detecting them?
He would have a talk with Glorfindel tonight.
Arwen opened her eyes again, slowly. She was very, very thirsty. Trying to sit up, she found she couldn't as her right arm had been immobilized by bandages against her body. Her shoulder felt stiff and tight. Tears came as Arwen looked at her wound. The arrow! And the deer and Ammë!
"Ammë! Ada!" Arwen called out beginning to cry. Where were they?
Elrond stepped out of her bathroom with a bowl of warm water with which to bathe his little one.
Setting it, the soap and towel he'd brought aside, he sat next to his daughter and held her gently to him, rubbing her back and letting her cry. Turning, he picked up a goblet he had prepared and helped Arwen drink it down, smiling at her rush to finish it. He had made certain to put lots of honey and peppermint in it to cover up the medicinal herbs.
Slowly her tears stopped as she succumbed to her father's healing touch and the medicine. He laid her back and pulling the blanket off, he began to gently bathe her with warm water and fragrant soap. Arwen, half asleep smiled at him. Her eyes never left his face, even when shortly thereafter, Celebrian came in with a bowl of soup.
Setting it down, she leaned over her husbands shoulder. "How is my sweet pea?' She laid a hand on her daughter's hair, her eyes filling with tears again.
"Ada made the pain go away Ammë." Arwen said tiredly. "But I cannot move my arm and here it is almost Yule and I will not be able be at the feast and- and."
"Hush love, of course you will." Celebrian looked at Arwen's sleepy face. "You will have a wonderful Eve of Yule, I promise."
Elrond finished bathing Arwen, wrapped her in a towel and softly patted her dry. Celebrian straightened and got a clean chemise and then with Elrond's help got the little she-elf into it.
The healer rose and cleaned up. Celebrian sat in the chair he had just vacated and picked up Arwen's hand. "I shall stay here with you Arwen while Ada goes and looks at our two unexpected guests, all right? Maybe in a little while you can eat the broth that Resaldil made just for you."
"Yes, Ammë." Arwen looked at her mother slightly frowning. "But what will happen to the poor baby deer? His Ammë's dead?"
"I do not know love. Perhaps your brothers can find out."
"I would like that Ammë. I was going to bring him hay to eat. He is so thin. Poor baby! Poor baby!"
Elrond, wiping his hands on a towel bent and kissed Arwen slowly on the forehead, sending her into deep sleep and then with a hand on his wife's shoulder, he asked, "And this couple? What can you tell me about them?"
"They are young humans" Celebrian looked at the now sleeping Arwen. "The wife is very pregnant and the husband I shot in the left thigh. I could not just kill him."
Elrond turned to his wife and pulled her close with one arm, kissing the top of her head. "Of course not, my love."
He looked down at his sleeping daughter and then bent and kissed her again, closing his eyes in pain briefly. He could have lost Arwen tonight, it was so easy to contemplate worse in this situation. He straightened slowly, brushing a few strands of hair off her face. "I will go check on Elladan's work. I asked him to tend to the wounded man. I will check on the young woman as well, though Elladan says she seems fine, just tired and undernourished."
Celebrian nodded and then smiled up at her husband, the candlelight sparkling in her sapphire eyes. "Ahh, but you remember how quickly a mother- to-be can change from "just fine" to miserable with the first contractions!"
Chuckling, he nodded and left, mentally reviewing his knowledge of childbirth and delivery and the supplies he had on hand to deal with it.
Lallayn sighed deeply and awoke. She lay on her side in a semi-dark room in which only a small candle burned. She could not see much of the room, but the bed was very comfortable and warm. About to drift off again, she grunted and rolled up into a sitting position: Pallan! Where was he? She looked around the room and then with a sigh of relief, saw that he lay in a bed next to hers, asleep. His injured leg lay outside the blankets, wrapped from knee to ankle and resting on a small pillow. His knife wound had also been tended to.
Smiling in relief, Lallayn got up awkwardly and went to her husband's side. Brushing his hair off his face, she was relieved to find he had no fever and slept soundly. She put a timid hand on his bandaged leg and bit her lip. Who had done this? The elves? She looked around the room and then rubbed her head. But the mother had been so angry! Lallayn sat on the edge of her bed. But so would she if someone had shot her child. She put her arms around her belly protectively.
Elrond knocked softly on the guest room door and waited until he heard the woman bid him enter.
The mother looked up at him as she knelt next to her husband's pale form. Erlond saw that Elladan had tended to the wounds in his usual efficient fashion. Smiling, he went over to the sleeping human and inspected the bandages, the one on the thigh showing a bit too much red for his liking. He eyed the supplies his son had left, and sighed as he realized he would need to redress it.
Approaching the woman who stood as hastily as her condition allowed, he came over and silently helped her sit on her bed.
"I am Elrond mistress. Welcome to Rivendell."
Lallalyn swallowed and said timidly, "I-I am Lallayn and this is my husband Pallan." Frightened by the tall healer and frightened by the string of recent events, Lallalyn rubbed her face and bit her lip.
She watched as the elf lord lit more candles and laying clean linen around her husband's leg, he unwrapped the bandage.
Lallayn eyed the healer's careful work, but had to turn away after a few minutes, feeling ill. The wound was so-so bloody.
And then she remembered the condition of the woman's daughter.
Swallowing, afraid to be sick, she put a hand to her belly and asked hesitantly. "Ah, ah how is the little girl?"
"My daughter will mend in time. She is sleeping now."
Lallalyn grew more pale. The healer's child was the one Pallan had shot? Oh no!
She stood unsteadily, "Oh, ah, I am so sorry my lord! We-we don't need to stay in this nice room." Lallalyn looked around at the fine Elven furniture, the fire burning cheerily, the tray of fruit and cheese and pot of steaming tea someone had left while she slept.
Sighing, she tried to stretch out a sharp pain in her back. "We could just, well, if you want, we could stay in the stables. Really, that would be fine. You can save this room for some of your Yule guests."
Elrond surprised, paused in his application of a cleansing tincture and putting aside the soaked pad, turned to the young human.
"Mistress, as you noted, it is Yule season and that would make your husband and yourself my Yule guests." He smiled warmly at her, the candle light intensifying his gaze. "Do not fear for yourself, your husband or your babe. This room is yours until you are both ready to travel, which looks to be not for some time." It did not take his healer's senses to feel the overwhelming fear she projected. He laid a calming hand on her shoulder.
Lallayn looked up at the elf lord and slumped under his warm touch touch. He helped her get comfortable on her bed.
"Rest now mistress Lallayn while I finish up with your husband. When I am done, I shall direct my attention to you, all right?"
Nodding tiredly, Lallayn lay back yawning and grunting as she turned on her side to keep an eye on her husband.
Elrond turned with a smile to finish up with Pallan.
He thoroughly examined the nervous young mother who allowed him access to her person with no demur.
His gentle and sure hands calmed her a great deal and when he was finished, he helped her get dressed. He then went and got her a selection of fruit and cheese and brought over a cup of the still warm tea.
Offering her the food, as the woman sat up from the nest of pillows he had made to support her, he grinned. "I am sure you do not need me to tell you are very close to delivery mistress! Any day now and you and your husband will meet your daughter!"
Lallalyn, her mouth parted in surprise, took the plate of food, almost tipping it in surprise at the healer's words. He knew the baby was a girl! Oh my!
Elrond took the dish from the small trembling hand and set it aside.
"But mistress, as you must also know, you are a bit undernourished and I am a bit worried about your milk. We have no wet nurses here in Rivendell. You must try to eat well while waiting for your daughter."
Lallalyn still dazed, nodded and automatically took a piece of cheese and popped it in her mouth. She could not get over the fact he knew it was a girl! Even the village mid-wife could only guess, though she was frequently right.
"How do you know it's a girl?" Lallayn leaned forward grimacing slightly at the lower back pain.
Elrond laughed at the young woman's amazed expression and stood looking down. "I can tell by reading the light of her spirit mistress. Now you must eat." Lallayn laughed and nodded, taking another piece of cheese.
The healer stood adding, "I will make sure the kitchen sends heartier meals for you." He turned to look at Pallan, still deeply asleep. "And I will order broth for your husband. He should waken in an hour or so. He will likely be in some pain so offer him the goblet there."
Lallalyn nodded, her mind whirling. She had to think of girl's names! She thoughtfully ate another piece of cheese. Masea? Ambra? Gaena?
The elf lord smiled as he left the room, closing the door softly behind.
Now, all was settled.
And then he realized looking at the evening sky: the deer! If they wanted a deer for the Eve of Yule feast, someone would have to go get the animal before anything else did.
As he went down to his study, he saw Glorfindel coming towards him still wearing his winter cloak.
"Ah, Glorfindel. Just who I need."
Grinning, the elf lord bowed slightly to his friend. "I am ever at your service my lord."
Elrond snorted at his exaggerated courtesy. "First: How did a human couple slip between the first perimeter guards this afternoon?"
Both of the blond elf's eyebrows went and as he followed his lord into the study, he began to pull off his still damp cape. Elrond stayed his hand. "No, I need you for another task and it will be outdoors."
Glorfindel, his eyes glittering in the candlelight bowed again.
"What does my lord command?"
"The couple?" Elrond went around his desk and sat and folded his hands before his face, his eyes bright and intense on his old friend.
Glorfindel sprawled in a chair before Elrond and said, "We had a sighting of a wolf pack earlier this morning and two guards were attacked. No injuries, only their dignities were damaged. I am afraid we were too zealous in our efforts and through that, there was a hole in our perimeter watch."
"Which should never happen again, my old friend. Tomorrow we will go over the watch schedule and make sure there are enough elves to watch the first perimeter AND hunt a wolf pack." He leaned back smiling slightly. "And did you track them down?"
"Yes indeed. There will be several nice pelts from them as well."
Glorfindel looked at Elrond through lowered eyes. "And the other task Elrond?"
"Celebrian and Arwen brought down a doe this afternoon. There was a bit of a.problem, which involved this young couple, necessitating leaving the carcass behind. It should be about 500 yards from where the river turns west, through the aspen grove. Would you please bring the animal to the meat cellar so we may have it for the Eve of Yule feast? And let Resaldil know it is on its way?"
Glorfindel rose smoothly from the chair, adjusting his cloak. "Of course."
Just as he was almost out the door, Elrond stop him. "My friend, if by any chance there is a yearling fawn standing guard by it's mother, would you please bring it back to the stables, alive and unharmed?"
Glorfindel gave his lord a look of confusion but simply bowed and went quickly out.
Elrond smiled and sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead. A good hot bath would improve his outlook immeasurably at the moment. But first he needed to see Arwen again.
As he walked down the corridor to his daughter's room, hands behind his back, his long deep blue robe brushing against his ankles, acknowledging the salutes of his fellow elves with a smile, the Lord of Imladris pondered fate.
The Yule season usually signaled a break in the cold winter pursuits, a chance to realize that even in the depths of winter, friendship and love abounded and would carry them on into the renewal of Spring. Thus, the feast of Yule, especially the Eve of Yule was a time for families and friends to remember what they did have and revel in it with a feast and even small presents.
And yet - by a hairsbreadth, his family's Yule could have been a dark, dark occasion. He could have lost his Undomiel, his sweet princess. And at the hands of a half-starved human just trying to provide for his burgeoning family. Elrond smiled and shook his said slightly as he paused to look out a window where the snow was still drifting past slowly and gracefully. Here in his House, a timid young human female was about to share a new life with them.
He took a deep breath. Just as a reminder that even in the darkness, fresh hope can shine forth.
He opened the door of his daughter's room and Celebrian looked up with a slight smile. "All is well Elrond. She actually drank half the soup and hour ago."
Elrond joined his wife and stood looking down at the sleeping and thankfully untroubled face of his daughter. He gently took her pulse and was glad to note it was strong and even. Arwen's forehead was cool under his lips as he kissed her.
Pulling Celebrian out of the chair, he sat down and then placed his wife in his lap, wrapping his arms around her. She leaned her head against his shoulder, both parents eyes focused on their sleeping child, warm in the light of the bedside candles.
There was always hope.
(MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!!!)
Celebrian bit her lip as she held her daughter upright on her pony and led her mare behind her. How tangled this all was! It was obvious the man had been hunting to provide for he and his wife and Arwen had just picked the wrong time to run. Celebrian closed her yes, tears gathering at the corners. But he could have killed her baby! She hugged the semi- conscious 10-year-old and hurried her steps. Well, she had promised to send someone back for the wounded man and his wife.
What a terrible mess! Two days before the Eve of Yule!
Elrond was laughing as Elladan recounted a hunting story, when all three stopped and listened.
Celebrian! Elrond spurred his horse into a dead run, his sons behind him. Something was very wrong! Arwen?
The elf lord's face went grim as leaned down closer to the neck of his stallion Rhean, his hair and cape flying like a midnight banners in a high wind. All three had drawn their swords and were ready to take on anything.
Except the sight of their sister leaning over her pony, her right shoulder dark red with blood.
Elrond, noting his wife's tearful face, sheathed his sword and leapt from the horse before it even stopped. Running over the snow, he careful picked up Arwen who murmured, "Ada, I am-I am shot by an arrow."
"Shh, sweetheart. Ada is here." Looking at his wife, she pulled herself up and wiped her face.
"We were hunting the deer she had tracked yesterday. We found her, but so had another hunter. One who has a young wife who is very much with child. Oh Elrond, Arwen ran just as the young man let loose his arrow! She could have died!" Celebrian put a hand to her mouth and dropped her head.
Holding his child in one arm, he swiftly put his other around his distraught wife and kissed her on the forehead. "All will be well Celebrian, I swear this."
Looking up at his sons, his own eyes suspiciously moist he indicated with a toss of his head. "Find the wounded hunter and his wife. We cannot leave them out here. It is going to snow soon."
The shocked twins, nodded and slowly followed their mother's tracks back to the woodland glade.
Elrond handed Arwen to his wife, mounted Rhean and then took her back. Waiting for her to remount he nodded once, spoke to his stallion and took off in a flurry of snow, Celebrian right behind him.
Lallayn was hugging her husband, who had fallen unconscious when Elladan and Elrohir rode up.
Both dismounted and slowly approached the couple. Lallayn just stared at the two.
Elladan spoke up quietly. "Our father has sent us to take you back to Rivendell where both of you will be cared for. Come, we mean you no harm."
Lallayn tried to keep her eyes on both young men (their hoods were up and she could not see their ears). Did he mean what he said? Rivendell? Lallalyn had heard of Rivendell. It was some kind of secret place where elves...lived. She brought a hand to her mouth! Then these were elves? She scrambled to her feet, wincing at her cold feet. She fell back against a nearby tree and then bit her lip. The two cloaked elves had moved closer to them.
Lallalyn shivered in her cloak and backed up a few feet more, and then realized she was leaving her husband to their mercy. Oh no! She went forward again but by that time, the silent of the two had bent down and easily picked up Pallan and went over to his horse, putting the injured human in his saddle and then vaulting easily behind him. He turned to look at them.
Elladan held out a hand to the frightened woman. "Come my lady. You need to get out of the cold." He stepped closer to her and Lallalyn torn between fear and relief found herself unable to move.
That was all the time Elladan needed and he quickly picked her up and went back to his horse, sliding her carefully onto the saddle. Mounting behind her, he then picked her up and carried her across his lap as he knew riding astride would not be comfortable in her condition.
Clucking to their horses the foursome rode off. Lallalyn looked up at the elf holding her and he smiled down at her as he skillfully made his way through the trees.
"And your name my lady?"
"I-I am Lallalyn and my husband is Pallan. We were headed to Bree and got lost."
Elladan nodded. Never having handled a pregnant woman before, he put a gentle hand in wonder on her firm round belly. "Perhaps my judgment is faulty, but by your condition I would say your time is near. Why would you be traveling now?"
Lallalyn sighed. "Pallan had no work and we thought we could make it before the baby came. I am all right at the moment. Just tired and cold."
Elladan smiled at the small human woman and adjusted her more comfortably in his arms.
"Well you will find rest in Rivendell Lallayn. We will be there shortly."
Lallalyn was silent for a while and then, smiled suddenly. Soft fat flakes of snow drifted down to her face. She had always liked the snow, and now, she was relieved she would not have to sleep in it tonight. Perhaps the elves would let them sleep in the barn with the horses.
Sighing deeply, she drifted off to sleep.
Elladan grinned down at his suddenly slumbering charge and spurred his stallion into a canter.
Arwen woke up slowly and immediately began to cry though she did not want to. But her shoulder hurt. She tried to gulp back her sobs but couldn't. "Oww! Ada! Ada!! My shoulder really, really hurts!" She squirmed and tried to sit up.
"We are almost home, princess. Shh." Elrond bent and kissed his daughter's clammy forehead, sending her to back to sleep. His expression grew more grim as they neared the bridge over the Bruinen. And how had a human couple gotten so close to Rivendell without the guard detecting them?
He would have a talk with Glorfindel tonight.
Arwen opened her eyes again, slowly. She was very, very thirsty. Trying to sit up, she found she couldn't as her right arm had been immobilized by bandages against her body. Her shoulder felt stiff and tight. Tears came as Arwen looked at her wound. The arrow! And the deer and Ammë!
"Ammë! Ada!" Arwen called out beginning to cry. Where were they?
Elrond stepped out of her bathroom with a bowl of warm water with which to bathe his little one.
Setting it, the soap and towel he'd brought aside, he sat next to his daughter and held her gently to him, rubbing her back and letting her cry. Turning, he picked up a goblet he had prepared and helped Arwen drink it down, smiling at her rush to finish it. He had made certain to put lots of honey and peppermint in it to cover up the medicinal herbs.
Slowly her tears stopped as she succumbed to her father's healing touch and the medicine. He laid her back and pulling the blanket off, he began to gently bathe her with warm water and fragrant soap. Arwen, half asleep smiled at him. Her eyes never left his face, even when shortly thereafter, Celebrian came in with a bowl of soup.
Setting it down, she leaned over her husbands shoulder. "How is my sweet pea?' She laid a hand on her daughter's hair, her eyes filling with tears again.
"Ada made the pain go away Ammë." Arwen said tiredly. "But I cannot move my arm and here it is almost Yule and I will not be able be at the feast and- and."
"Hush love, of course you will." Celebrian looked at Arwen's sleepy face. "You will have a wonderful Eve of Yule, I promise."
Elrond finished bathing Arwen, wrapped her in a towel and softly patted her dry. Celebrian straightened and got a clean chemise and then with Elrond's help got the little she-elf into it.
The healer rose and cleaned up. Celebrian sat in the chair he had just vacated and picked up Arwen's hand. "I shall stay here with you Arwen while Ada goes and looks at our two unexpected guests, all right? Maybe in a little while you can eat the broth that Resaldil made just for you."
"Yes, Ammë." Arwen looked at her mother slightly frowning. "But what will happen to the poor baby deer? His Ammë's dead?"
"I do not know love. Perhaps your brothers can find out."
"I would like that Ammë. I was going to bring him hay to eat. He is so thin. Poor baby! Poor baby!"
Elrond, wiping his hands on a towel bent and kissed Arwen slowly on the forehead, sending her into deep sleep and then with a hand on his wife's shoulder, he asked, "And this couple? What can you tell me about them?"
"They are young humans" Celebrian looked at the now sleeping Arwen. "The wife is very pregnant and the husband I shot in the left thigh. I could not just kill him."
Elrond turned to his wife and pulled her close with one arm, kissing the top of her head. "Of course not, my love."
He looked down at his sleeping daughter and then bent and kissed her again, closing his eyes in pain briefly. He could have lost Arwen tonight, it was so easy to contemplate worse in this situation. He straightened slowly, brushing a few strands of hair off her face. "I will go check on Elladan's work. I asked him to tend to the wounded man. I will check on the young woman as well, though Elladan says she seems fine, just tired and undernourished."
Celebrian nodded and then smiled up at her husband, the candlelight sparkling in her sapphire eyes. "Ahh, but you remember how quickly a mother- to-be can change from "just fine" to miserable with the first contractions!"
Chuckling, he nodded and left, mentally reviewing his knowledge of childbirth and delivery and the supplies he had on hand to deal with it.
Lallayn sighed deeply and awoke. She lay on her side in a semi-dark room in which only a small candle burned. She could not see much of the room, but the bed was very comfortable and warm. About to drift off again, she grunted and rolled up into a sitting position: Pallan! Where was he? She looked around the room and then with a sigh of relief, saw that he lay in a bed next to hers, asleep. His injured leg lay outside the blankets, wrapped from knee to ankle and resting on a small pillow. His knife wound had also been tended to.
Smiling in relief, Lallayn got up awkwardly and went to her husband's side. Brushing his hair off his face, she was relieved to find he had no fever and slept soundly. She put a timid hand on his bandaged leg and bit her lip. Who had done this? The elves? She looked around the room and then rubbed her head. But the mother had been so angry! Lallayn sat on the edge of her bed. But so would she if someone had shot her child. She put her arms around her belly protectively.
Elrond knocked softly on the guest room door and waited until he heard the woman bid him enter.
The mother looked up at him as she knelt next to her husband's pale form. Erlond saw that Elladan had tended to the wounds in his usual efficient fashion. Smiling, he went over to the sleeping human and inspected the bandages, the one on the thigh showing a bit too much red for his liking. He eyed the supplies his son had left, and sighed as he realized he would need to redress it.
Approaching the woman who stood as hastily as her condition allowed, he came over and silently helped her sit on her bed.
"I am Elrond mistress. Welcome to Rivendell."
Lallalyn swallowed and said timidly, "I-I am Lallayn and this is my husband Pallan." Frightened by the tall healer and frightened by the string of recent events, Lallalyn rubbed her face and bit her lip.
She watched as the elf lord lit more candles and laying clean linen around her husband's leg, he unwrapped the bandage.
Lallayn eyed the healer's careful work, but had to turn away after a few minutes, feeling ill. The wound was so-so bloody.
And then she remembered the condition of the woman's daughter.
Swallowing, afraid to be sick, she put a hand to her belly and asked hesitantly. "Ah, ah how is the little girl?"
"My daughter will mend in time. She is sleeping now."
Lallalyn grew more pale. The healer's child was the one Pallan had shot? Oh no!
She stood unsteadily, "Oh, ah, I am so sorry my lord! We-we don't need to stay in this nice room." Lallalyn looked around at the fine Elven furniture, the fire burning cheerily, the tray of fruit and cheese and pot of steaming tea someone had left while she slept.
Sighing, she tried to stretch out a sharp pain in her back. "We could just, well, if you want, we could stay in the stables. Really, that would be fine. You can save this room for some of your Yule guests."
Elrond surprised, paused in his application of a cleansing tincture and putting aside the soaked pad, turned to the young human.
"Mistress, as you noted, it is Yule season and that would make your husband and yourself my Yule guests." He smiled warmly at her, the candle light intensifying his gaze. "Do not fear for yourself, your husband or your babe. This room is yours until you are both ready to travel, which looks to be not for some time." It did not take his healer's senses to feel the overwhelming fear she projected. He laid a calming hand on her shoulder.
Lallayn looked up at the elf lord and slumped under his warm touch touch. He helped her get comfortable on her bed.
"Rest now mistress Lallayn while I finish up with your husband. When I am done, I shall direct my attention to you, all right?"
Nodding tiredly, Lallayn lay back yawning and grunting as she turned on her side to keep an eye on her husband.
Elrond turned with a smile to finish up with Pallan.
He thoroughly examined the nervous young mother who allowed him access to her person with no demur.
His gentle and sure hands calmed her a great deal and when he was finished, he helped her get dressed. He then went and got her a selection of fruit and cheese and brought over a cup of the still warm tea.
Offering her the food, as the woman sat up from the nest of pillows he had made to support her, he grinned. "I am sure you do not need me to tell you are very close to delivery mistress! Any day now and you and your husband will meet your daughter!"
Lallalyn, her mouth parted in surprise, took the plate of food, almost tipping it in surprise at the healer's words. He knew the baby was a girl! Oh my!
Elrond took the dish from the small trembling hand and set it aside.
"But mistress, as you must also know, you are a bit undernourished and I am a bit worried about your milk. We have no wet nurses here in Rivendell. You must try to eat well while waiting for your daughter."
Lallalyn still dazed, nodded and automatically took a piece of cheese and popped it in her mouth. She could not get over the fact he knew it was a girl! Even the village mid-wife could only guess, though she was frequently right.
"How do you know it's a girl?" Lallayn leaned forward grimacing slightly at the lower back pain.
Elrond laughed at the young woman's amazed expression and stood looking down. "I can tell by reading the light of her spirit mistress. Now you must eat." Lallayn laughed and nodded, taking another piece of cheese.
The healer stood adding, "I will make sure the kitchen sends heartier meals for you." He turned to look at Pallan, still deeply asleep. "And I will order broth for your husband. He should waken in an hour or so. He will likely be in some pain so offer him the goblet there."
Lallalyn nodded, her mind whirling. She had to think of girl's names! She thoughtfully ate another piece of cheese. Masea? Ambra? Gaena?
The elf lord smiled as he left the room, closing the door softly behind.
Now, all was settled.
And then he realized looking at the evening sky: the deer! If they wanted a deer for the Eve of Yule feast, someone would have to go get the animal before anything else did.
As he went down to his study, he saw Glorfindel coming towards him still wearing his winter cloak.
"Ah, Glorfindel. Just who I need."
Grinning, the elf lord bowed slightly to his friend. "I am ever at your service my lord."
Elrond snorted at his exaggerated courtesy. "First: How did a human couple slip between the first perimeter guards this afternoon?"
Both of the blond elf's eyebrows went and as he followed his lord into the study, he began to pull off his still damp cape. Elrond stayed his hand. "No, I need you for another task and it will be outdoors."
Glorfindel, his eyes glittering in the candlelight bowed again.
"What does my lord command?"
"The couple?" Elrond went around his desk and sat and folded his hands before his face, his eyes bright and intense on his old friend.
Glorfindel sprawled in a chair before Elrond and said, "We had a sighting of a wolf pack earlier this morning and two guards were attacked. No injuries, only their dignities were damaged. I am afraid we were too zealous in our efforts and through that, there was a hole in our perimeter watch."
"Which should never happen again, my old friend. Tomorrow we will go over the watch schedule and make sure there are enough elves to watch the first perimeter AND hunt a wolf pack." He leaned back smiling slightly. "And did you track them down?"
"Yes indeed. There will be several nice pelts from them as well."
Glorfindel looked at Elrond through lowered eyes. "And the other task Elrond?"
"Celebrian and Arwen brought down a doe this afternoon. There was a bit of a.problem, which involved this young couple, necessitating leaving the carcass behind. It should be about 500 yards from where the river turns west, through the aspen grove. Would you please bring the animal to the meat cellar so we may have it for the Eve of Yule feast? And let Resaldil know it is on its way?"
Glorfindel rose smoothly from the chair, adjusting his cloak. "Of course."
Just as he was almost out the door, Elrond stop him. "My friend, if by any chance there is a yearling fawn standing guard by it's mother, would you please bring it back to the stables, alive and unharmed?"
Glorfindel gave his lord a look of confusion but simply bowed and went quickly out.
Elrond smiled and sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead. A good hot bath would improve his outlook immeasurably at the moment. But first he needed to see Arwen again.
As he walked down the corridor to his daughter's room, hands behind his back, his long deep blue robe brushing against his ankles, acknowledging the salutes of his fellow elves with a smile, the Lord of Imladris pondered fate.
The Yule season usually signaled a break in the cold winter pursuits, a chance to realize that even in the depths of winter, friendship and love abounded and would carry them on into the renewal of Spring. Thus, the feast of Yule, especially the Eve of Yule was a time for families and friends to remember what they did have and revel in it with a feast and even small presents.
And yet - by a hairsbreadth, his family's Yule could have been a dark, dark occasion. He could have lost his Undomiel, his sweet princess. And at the hands of a half-starved human just trying to provide for his burgeoning family. Elrond smiled and shook his said slightly as he paused to look out a window where the snow was still drifting past slowly and gracefully. Here in his House, a timid young human female was about to share a new life with them.
He took a deep breath. Just as a reminder that even in the darkness, fresh hope can shine forth.
He opened the door of his daughter's room and Celebrian looked up with a slight smile. "All is well Elrond. She actually drank half the soup and hour ago."
Elrond joined his wife and stood looking down at the sleeping and thankfully untroubled face of his daughter. He gently took her pulse and was glad to note it was strong and even. Arwen's forehead was cool under his lips as he kissed her.
Pulling Celebrian out of the chair, he sat down and then placed his wife in his lap, wrapping his arms around her. She leaned her head against his shoulder, both parents eyes focused on their sleeping child, warm in the light of the bedside candles.
There was always hope.
(MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!!!)