Enedeth moaned and struggled...oh her tummy burned and her ankles!! "No, no, do not touch!" She tried to push the hands away that were holding her...and then suddenly, she settled into dreamless sleep. Cool, soft sleep. She snuggled into her pillow and hugged Polly to her. The burns were just a dream. No one got burned, Arwen was fine and her Ada and Mama would still let them play...and they had to sing...

Enedeth suddenly awoke. Oh it was getting close to the Mid Summer's Festival! Arwen and she needed to sing their song!

Dizzily, Enedeth looked down and tears gathered in her eye: Her tummy was wrapped lightly and she could not feel too much from it or her ankles. She looked around the room she found herself in...It was dark and there was only one candle burning at her bedside. A mug and a pot that had a wonderful flower scent coming from it sat on the bed side table, and there was no Polly with her and no Arwen. She fell back into the pillows and bit her lip. This was not her room, it was not Arwen's room...it was someone else's room!! And they were going to come back and find her laying in their bed and they would get angry and.....wait where was Grandmamma?? Grandmamma was going to be worried!

"Grandmamma! Grandmamma! I want my Grandmamma!" Enedeth put her hands over her face and then awkwardly rolled over avoiding her broken arm and got out of bed. She went over to the door and opened it slowly. The hallway before her was lit with torches burning in holders along the walls. She did not recognize it. More and more frightened, she went down the hall, completely heedless that she was unclothed. She saw several closed doors. All the doors around her were closed, including the set of ornately carved doors at the end of the hallway.

"Grandmamma!" she cried out, "I want my Grandmama..." her voice petered off in a whisper as she realized anyone nearby would be sleeping. She sunk to the floor and curled up into a ball. She did not feel good. And she was shivering.

The doors behind her opened and she turned around and saw a tall dark figure looking at her and she put a hand to her mouth afraid...and then he walked out into the light of the torcheres.

It was Lord Elrond.

Enedeth, so grateful it was someone she recognized, got up and ran unsteadily to the elf lord and flung her good arm around his waist. He put a hand to her head and then bent down to the girl, carefully picking her up.

"Hush little Enedeth. You have just had a bad dream. Come let me settle you."

Enedeth turned her face into the soft robe the elf lord wore and hid her face. She was thirsty now and her head ached. "I want my Grandmama," she whispered hoarsely.

Elrond smiled down at his patient and carried her back to the guest room. Laying her down, he lit more candles and then sat on the bed. Placing a hand over her bandages he sent healing energy into her burns and Enedeth sighed as the pain tapered off. Picking up the goblet he had left for just such an occurrence, he lifted her head so she could drink the medicine down.

"I am sorry I woke you. I did not feel good. I am sorry Arwen was hurt my lord do not make her stay away." Enedeth said, her voice echoing in the cup.

"No, no Enedeth, it was just an accident. I am not angry." He lay the goblet aside, and brushed hr hair back. "I am grateful neither of you was hurt worse. Shall I go fetch Mallinfar?"

"She is here?" Enedeth rubbed her eyes.

"Yes, love just down the hall."

Enedeth smiled and grabbed the elf lord's slender hand lying on the coverlet. "Thank you! Yes! " Enedeth tried to sit up, but Elrond lay her back. "Stay still and I shall bring her."

"All right," Enedeth said around a yawn.

The elf lord rose in a soft rustle of cloth and Enedeth sleepily watched his silent departure. Oh Grandmamma was here...and don't be angry, please!

Enedeth was almost asleep when she felt a soft kiss on her forehead. She opened her eyes and saw the concerned face of her Grandmamma. Tears filled her eyes and she put her arms around Mallinfar, whispering. "Sleep with me grandmamma please."

"Of course sweet pea." The she elf slipped under the covers and carefully cuddled her granddaughter, being mindful of her burns and her arm. Kissing her again, she heard the little one sigh and saw her eyes shut slowly.

Lord Elrond, watching this from the door of the guest room smiled at the picture they made and quietly shut the door.

The next morning, Arwen rushed into Enedeth's room and saw she and her grandmother curled up together. Smiling, she went to Enedeth's side of the bed and shook her friend's shoulder.

"Wake up sleep head! It is time for breakfast! Ada says I can get up and play! My burns are not so bad!"

Enedeth opened her eyes and yawning, smiled at Arwen and tried to sit up, but Mallinfar's arm was draped across her. The older she-elf stirred and rose on one elbow and smiled at both girls.

"Good morning ladies. Arwen, how are you this morning?"

"Ada says I can play!"

"Ah, that is excellent. And what does your Ada say about my sweet pea here?"

"I will go get him. He is still eating breakfast, and talking." Before Mallinfar could stop Arwen, she rushed off, slamming the door in her haste.

Grinning, Mallinfar got up and looked at Enedeth and slowly brushed the tangled hair off her face. "And how are you little bee?"

"I-I am all right Grandmamma." Wincing, Enedeth sat up. Mallinfar, adjusting her chemise, bent over her granddaughter. "I shall go and get dressed all right, and I shall be right back."

Enedeth nodded and lay back against the pillows. Her tummy felt funny. She pulled up the blanket and looked at the clean linen wrapped around her and wrinkled her nose at the strong smell of the salve that the elf lord had used.

Looking at herself she bit her lip. How could she stand up and sing with a burned tummy and a broken arm? She would look silly. Sighing she put a hand over her eyes. Arwen would probably tell her she was going to sing the "Moon Sailed Over the Sea" by herself.

Laying there, Enedeth began to wonder if it was such a good idea to have a friend. Look what had happened to her in such a short time! She slumped under the covers and closed her eyes again. Might as well go back to sleep, she was going to be no fun today.

A slight rustle of cloth and she felt the soft touch a hand. Opening her eyes she looked into the smiling grey ones of Lord Elrond.

"And how are you feeling today Enedeth?"

"I, I am all better? Can I go play?"

"We shall see. Your burns were a bit more serious than Arwen's."

Enedeth nodded and swallowed. She was right. She would once again have to stay in bed and drink a co-connoction and sleep and miss everything.

Elrond slowly drew off the coverlet, and lay a hand briefly on the burns and then turning to the table, took a small knife and carefully cut the bandages away. Stripping them carefully away, he examined the angry red flesh on the girl's stomach and ankles. Only one spot on her stomach was not drying up. He took his pot of salve and gently rubbed it into the open wound and Enedeth winced as the cool substance touched her enflamed skin. The healer then softly rubbed more salve into the other areas.

As a new bandaged was gently wrapped around her, Arwen came in eating a muffin and trailing crumbs down her blue gown.

"Wha doef Adath say?" She asked around a mouthful of warm food.

"I have not told her yea or nay Arwen. And please my love do not speak with your mouth full."

"Yeth Adath." She said quickly swallowing.

Finished, the healer assessed his patient. She looked a little pale, but the burns were clearing up nicely.

"I think Enedeth you and Arwen may play quietly today. No rough-housing. And certainly no tree-climbing."

"Yay!!" Arwen hugged her father, getting crumbs all down the front of his deep green robe. The she elf hopped on the bed and Enedeth sat up carefully and looked from the slightly smiling healer to his daughter.

And then Mallinfar came in, bearing a tray, which she set on the table. Looking to her lord he bowed his head slightly and said "Mallinfar. I believe Enedeth may get up and play today if she and Arwen indulge in quiet pursuits, like reading or drawing."

"I am relieved to hear that my lord, and I am sure that Enedeth is too. Come sweet pea, come and have breakfast."

Enedeth nodded. Arwen carefully helped Enedeth out of bed and grabbed the comfortable worn gown Mallinfar had brought for Enedeth. It was soft and hung in loose folds from the neckline.

Satisified that Mallinfar had everything under control, Elrond turned to get his supplies.

As Mallinfar got Enedeth dressed and he was carefully rolling up the clean linen he had not used, Arwen moved to stand next to her father and whispered. "I shall take good care of Enedeth Ada. Does she have to take any con-conoctions? I can make sure she drinks them all without making a face."

Elrond, carefully swallowing his laughter nodded, his face falling into serious lines. "She has had all the concoctions she needs right now Arwen." He paused and bent close to his daughter's dark head. "But I would appreciate it if you would keep an eye out for any problems or complaints of pain, all right?"

Arwen nodded, just as serious.

Hearing the chairs being pulled out from the table, she turned to run and see if there was anything she could help with.

Smiling at the little group, the elf lord left the room quietly.



Arwen and Enedeth were as good as their word, for both of them did not want any more interruptions in their rehearsal schedule.

So for the next few days, the girls went back and forth between their respective homes, quiet and well behaved.

And Enedeth was relieved when the bandages came off the burns.

As Lord Elrond gently pressed the tender new skin, feeling for any signs of problems, Enedeth watched his long fingers and said anxiously, "It is all better now. It does not hurt when you do that."

He looked up and smiled as he lay a warm hand on her tummy. "Yes, everything is fine Enedeth. And your arm is coming along well too. Perhaps next week, if there are no problems."

Enedeth nodded happily as Elrond then helped her put her gown back on.

Finished, Enedeth looked up as Elrond stood. "Yes, you may go Enedeth! Arwen is waiting out in the rose garden. She has been helping her mother cut roses."

Enedeth scrambled out of the study and ran down the hall. Elrond stuck his head out the door to call out softly. "No running in the corridor please Enedeth."

She immediately slowed her pace, even pausing to incline her head respectfully as Celebrian came in the front door holding a basket with multi-hued roses in it. She put a fond hand on Enedeth's head and swept down towards her husband, the scent of the flowers trailing behind her.

Enedeth walked slowly to the rose garden and found Arwen swinging on the wrought iron gate. Sighing because she could not join her, she sat on a nearby stone bench and watched the she elf swing.

"Your Ada says my burns are all gone and maybe, well maybe next week I can get my arm out of the splint!"

"Yey!" Arwen swung off the gate and ran to Enedeth and hugged her. Grabbing her hand she said, "Let us go to the fern garden and practice."

Nodding Enedeth followed her friend through a warren of gardens and copses of trees, which the High House was surrounded. They even passed the wide grassy lawn where most of the Midsummer's Eve activities were going to take place. Elves were constructing a beautiful bower to be used as the stage. Thin curly staves of metal were used to train ropes of flowering jasmine and roses and ferns. It looked like a magical grotto and Enedeth could not wait for it to be filled with lights and singing. Oh the festival was going to be so much fun!