Elrond glanced up and frowned and Rhean reared up terrified, which got my
mount and the packhorse frightened. I was trying to control the animals and
keep them from going off the edge, when I noticed Elrond had stopped,
raised his right hand, pointing it at the now visible torrent of snow. His
hand suddenly flashed with blue light which made me wince and made the
horses snort, but then, they unexpectedly started to calm down. He was
speaking Quenya as near as I could determine, since I didn't understand it
and I watched awestruck as the snow began to pour around us as if we were a
big rock in a waterfall. Wow!! Elvish magic!! I was so impressed as he sat
there and calmly looked magnificently...Elven and commanded the air.
But magic use is not that simple, even for an Elven lord of his stature. It was a big avalanche, and though the brunt of it missed us, it took a lot of energy to keep the tons of snow moved aside, much less big objects like boulders and trees. And as the thundering wall of snow kept coming, I could see that Elrond was beginning to falter. I grabbed the packhorse and nudged my mount close to Rhean and then tried to get all three of us against the cliff wall to avoid falling debris.
And I was mostly successful in this! But though the big bits missed us, it was the smaller bits that got us in the end and whack, a rock the size of a baseball, hit Lord Elrond in the head and he sank sideways in the saddle. I immediately jumped off to catch him, but didn't make it in time to keep him from hitting the ground. Adrenaline rushing, I shoved the milling horses out of my way and dragged the elf lord away from their nervous hooves, up against the cliff wall. I tried to pull the horse close, and Rhean, his master's horse, did crowd against us, but the other two, terrified, leapt away and I lost sight of them through the still falling snow.
Vilya had gone out the minute he had gone unconscious and it was with surprise I could not see the ring on his hand. Wow. Pretty neat! I had forgotten all about that Ring of the Air! I hoped, with a small shudder, it didn't invite any unfriendly attention.
The avalanche was not quite done, however, and a few more tons poured down, cocooning I and the elf lord in snow and debris. And though Rhean had tried to stay with us, the rushing snow covered him from sight and I did not know what happened to him for sometime. A huge pine tree fell over us, and thankfully made a small cave under its branches and provided a surface for the snow to run off. We had a space about four feet by six and filled with the sharp tang of freshly killed pine.
Finally the rushing stopped, and I cringed as I heard rocks fall and the snow settle, I pulled Lord Elrond's limp form closer to me and clutched him to me, terrified.
Now what!!??
I tried to brush the snow away from our faces, terrified that any little move would set the whole mountainside down on us. I tried to see how bad the knock on Lord Elrond's head was but it was about three inches into his hairline and I couldn't get a good angle on it. Luckily, the cold made it bleed slowly. I pulled him close to me and wrapped his cape around him tighter. His head lolled on my shoulder and I brushed his hair off his face. If I hadn't been in fear of our lives, I'd have been swooning to hold my favorite elf lord so close.
How would anyone find us? How would they be able to get us out from under all this with out shifting the snow and debris dangerously?
I hugged Elrond closer, shivering. This was a nightmare. The faint grey light of the snow dimmed and went dark as the day waned. My legs had cramped up something fierce and my bladder was clambering for relief.
Succumbing to hopelessness, I began to cry. Damn snow!! And I had thought it so lovely and enchanting! What an idiot!
Shivering harder, I tried to wrap us both up in our capes and share body warmth, but the damp ground beneath and the walls of snow around us were not conducive to comfort and warmth. And the little heat we gave off began to make the snow drip.
I began to feel sleepy after awhile thankfully and nodded off, curled around Elrond.
It had to be hours later and my own coughing woke me up. My chest hurt. I tried to sit up, but my head swam. Shivering violently, I felt terrible! And the elf lord, his breathing slow and quiet still lay unconscious in my arms. And I knew closed elf eyes was not good!
Coughing again, I squeezed my eyes shut in pain, clutching Elrond closer. I was really afraid my feet had given in to frostbite and I knew if we were not discovered soon, we would both succumb to hypothermia.
Yawning and coughing, I fell asleep again, this time very deeply.
My coughing woke me again, and shivering, I tried to sit up, my legs so numb I wasn't even getting pins and needles. My throat was dry and raw and my head felt two sizes too large for my skull. I could only imagine what Elrond's head must feel like, with the icy cold making it ache something fierce.
I moaned, trying to straighten but I was suddenly clutched around the middle and pulled against inviting warmth (all things considered). Sighing I started to relax and then sat up quickly, almost banging Elrond's chin up his nose. He had apparently awoken while I was asleep and had shifted positions with me. He was now holding me against his chest and we were both wrapped together in our cloaks. He was the source of the feeble warmth I felt and I burrowed down into it.
"Marie." His voice cracked with dryness and cold. "You must not sleep anymore."
"What else is there to do my lord?" I coughed and shivered and he held me closer. "I cannot think straight. I do not think I can play 20 questions right now..." I yawned and my head slid off his shoulder to rest sideways on his arm. "Your head...your head must...really...really hurt....."
"I have had worse Marie. It does ache something fierce right now though." He shook me slightly and I grinned. "Sto-stop jiggling me! I want to sleep. In the morning everything will...be...better.." And my eyes closed as if weighted by rocks and I sunk into darkness..
I woke slowly, head still pounding, but more distantly. I have no idea how long I had slept, maybe not very long as it was still very dark and I could not see the elf lord, though he still held me close. How nice...hugged by my favorite elf lord. Shifting, I felt a hand under my left breast, over my heart. That woke me up some...what...what...was he doing?? I began to feel a little warmer, especially my chest....I opened my eyes wider, there seemed to be a little more light now, sort of bluish in color...maybe the sun was coming up? Then I realized with surprise, the blue light was coming from me!
"Hey, I'm glowing like a swimming pool at night!!" I coughed again, but the pain eased up in my chest. I stared at the blue light and realized foggily, he was using Vilya..
I struggled to sit up and the hand only slightly moved under my breast, the warmth there even greater. "No, no stop that"! I feebly plucked at his arm, waking up more. "You'll kill yourself! Stop using Vilya...stop...you need the energy too...stop it Elrond!" He shifted me to an upright position, his other arm across my middle. He said in my right ear in a dry whisper. "Cease your struggles Marie. I am trying to keep you alive and awake. Do not fight me in this! This is not easy for me..."
My brief squall settled into exhaustion...and I couldn't imagine Lord Elrond's energy being very high right now, either. Sad to say, I really wanted to enjoy the closeness with Elrond but I couldn't keep awake...as a matter of fact, the warmth was making it worse.
"What about you? You-you must stay alive too and using the ring...the ring is bad....don't let Sauron get the ring....Frodo! Hide Frodo!...stop using the ring....it's trouble.."
Elrond jiggled me again and I flopped aback on his chest, his long hair, a cold curtain against my face, it smelled nice, his hair did...some kind of flower... I coughed and felt Elrond's hand shift along my ribs and press harder, the warmth getting more intense and spreading further.
"Why do you speak of Sauron and my ring? He does not know it is here."
"Keep-keep it hidden.. He must not find it...it's too soon, too soon. No ring."
"Marie, do not worry. Sauron will not find my ring. Who is Frodo?"
"Frodo...No, can't say..." I tried to sit up and Elrond adjusted me in front of him. I kicked a pine bough and the snow shook down on both of us."
"How-how much longer.....my ...lord? Until until we...until it is too late...for us?'
I opened my eyes and noticed the light was getting brighter...and it was not blue.
"It is not too late Marie. The outriders will return for us."
"But, but all this snow...will...fall..." I started coughing and though he sent warmth into my chest, I could feel he was getting weaker, because he could not stop my chest pain.
As I sat there in a daze unable to sleep because of his effort, I began to feel more warm which was a relief...maybe Vilya was working? I stirred and shifted saying, "I need to take off my cloak. I am getting warmer." I tried to shift out of his arms. "No, no Marie, it is the onset of hypothermia." He pulled me close again. "Hush. You must leave your cloak on." Still leaving his hand on my ribs, he used the other to pull my hood up and rubbed my ears, which was painful. "Ow!! That hurts!! Stop it!" I tried to pull his hand away. He actually laughed. "There is the Marie I know. Keep fighting, you will stay alive longer!"
But I settled against him feeling sleepy again. All was quiet from the elf lord too. The cold was getting to both of us.
I must have drifted off again (and Elrond too) when I felt snow on my face. I looked up, brushing my face and noticed it was getting lighter. Elrond HAD fallen asleep again, eyes closed and worried I tried to turn in his arms and shake him. Maybe the snow and debris were shifting?
His hand had slipped off my chest and I pulled it out of my tunic and tried chaffing it to get him to stir. His head just lolled against mine.
Okay you guys, do not hit me or cringe too much...let's just blame it on the hypothermia, shall we? But I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek and ran a hand down his soft face (no stubble!!). When would I ever get another chance? He was a pretty darn good elf lord and had been really patient with me. Think of all the trouble I had caused him (stop laughing out there!!) And he still remained my friend and had not (as yet!) tied me up in a sack and left me on the East Road!
Okay, mush time over!
Maybe you all figured it out, but we were finally being rescued. It took another half an hour or so for me to be sure, but along with it getting lighter, I could hear voices! For a brief moment I got scared: It wouldn't be orcs or something would it??
But no, when the daylight finally came in, I saw through my tearing eyes (the light was so bright!!) it was an Elvish face looking down at us. Glorfindel's actually (talk about blond Elvish eyefuls!! Remind me to talk about him sometime. Woo.)
ANYWAY, the snow was carefully cleared away and I said anxiously in a hoarse voice "He's had a rock hit him!! He's been trying to keep me alive with Vilya!! Help him!!" I kept blinking as the light really hurt.
I was lifted out first and carried over to a waiting elf on horseback who bundled me up. I tried to keep my eyes closed but I had to see what happened to Elrond. I hissed at the blood dried on his face as he was carefully lifted out and Glorfindel, already remounted took his lord in his arms. Okay, okay Elrond was all right. I turned my face away from all that snow and sunlight because my eyes were really burning. The elf holding me adjusted me in his arms and covered up my face. His body warmth allowed me to relax and I fell asleep again.
The next two days were miserable. And I spent most of them asleep. The elves with us tried to keep Elrond and I warm and to keep frostbite from spreading.
Elrond steadily improved and by the time we rode into Rivendell late the second night, he was able to sit a horse, albeit with someone riding behind him.
During the day, my eyes had been wrapped against the snow glare (Elronds too for that matter) I only knew we had reached Rivendell because the rider holding me, Calador, said quietly, "We are home mistress." I sighed deeply. A soft bed!! I couldn't wait!!
And I was not really injured, just nursing a nasty cold and my feet were really numb, but I knew a hot bath would fix that!
I was set on my bed and I quickly unwrapped my eyes, wincing just a little. Only a small candle burned behind me. I thankfully pulled off my clothes and tiredly fell back into the quilt. With the last of my strength, I wrapped myself up and fell asleep again.
Ah bliss!
Bliss was going to be in short order for quite awhile. As they say, things were going to get worse before they got better (and that in itself was a relative term.)
The next morning, I awoke, my head feeling stuffed and my throat only kind of raw. Just a winter cold. I sat up coughing and swung out of bed to use the bathroom. Putting my feet on the floor, I realized with a frown, I could not feel the floor. I looked down at my bandaged feet. Not sure why they needed bandaging, but they had, right after we made camp the first night. Elrond had directed Glorfindel, but he seemed to know what he was doing.
Anwyay, I tried to walk and it was really strange, not feeling and I kind of held onto things as I made my way uncertainly to the bathroom.
Finished, I brought out a glass of water with me and sat on the bed and just stared at my feet. Hm. I tried to wiggle my toes. But I couldn't feel anything. Maybe the bandages had been wrapped too tight?
I noticed my legs looked very white and pale, but I hadn't lain out in the sun in ages. (I actually did that a few times in the summer in my patio. The sun felt good, and since I could sort of read Sindarin, I actually indulged in books. Very pleasant)
Sitting there trying to puzzle out myself, I did not notice that Elrond had come in until I looked up and saw him standing at the foot of the bed.
I smiled at him, glad to see him on his feet and looking...well...his ol' Elvish self again. He still had a thin strip of linen wrapped around his forehead and his face looked grave. By this time, surely you know, it was a little late for me to be nervous in front of him sitting there naked, though it still makes me feel vulnerable.
"Hi there!" I blurted out in Old Dwarvish. I stood up weaving and he came over to me and not being able to help myself, I gave him a big hug. "I am so glad to see you awake and functioning! You had me so worried! How do you feel?" He had actually hugged me back briefly and then set me down on the bed. He continued to stand in front of me, his eyes smiling, but his face rather still. "I am well Marie. Thank you for your quick thinking in the avalanche."
I grinned crookedly. "Well thanks for keeping me alive." I put a hand on my heart. "That must have been so taxing!"
He smiled and nodded.
"Hey, did the horses survive?"
"Yes, they actually alerted the riders to our plight."
"I am so glad! I am rather fond of Carenloth."
"Carneloth, Rhean and Fenril are all fine. It is you that has me concerned."
I slumped. Darn. Coughing I looked at my hands. "It's just a cold. I have had worse."
"The cold is not what has me concerned." He bent and swung my legs onto the bed.
"Oh hey wait, I haven't had a hot bath yet! They'll be all right after a good soak in a hot tub!" I got up awkwardly and disdaining his hand, hobbled to the bathroom and not even taking the bandages off, slid into the hot water.
I tried to smile at him and saw with a sinking heart he had that concerned healer look in his face, which made me really nervous and I sank to my neck into the water. Which actually felt really good. I ducked my head and started to use soap everywhere, grateful to get clean. That is until my lower legs started to get pins and needles. I opened my mouth in pain looking at him shocked. What was happening! I tried to scramble out again, but he shook his head and actually held me down and I didn't have the energy to fight him back but squirmed weakly under his hand, starting to cry. "OOOH crap!! Ohh it really hurts!! Let me out!! Stop it!!" I tried futilely to get out from under his hand but he held me until all I could do was cry. The pins and needles had turned into the worst of charley horses and the pain was terrible.
Finally the sharp pain settled into dull agony (not sure which is better) and Elrond finally let me get out. Crawling over the lip of the tub I just stood there weeping until he wrapped me in a towel and brought me back to bed. I didn't even want to look at him. I coughed then several times, and he propped me up with pillows and brought me a bathroom cloth to blow my nose into.
While I was doing that, he had pulled the blanket off my lower torso and got to work unwrapping the wet bandages. Oh lord my legs hurt and my feet!!
But not all of my toes thankfully.
I lay there exhausted and stared at the ceiling while he fussed with the bandages. But after awhile I could not feel anything more and looked down at what he was doing.
Staring at my toes that he was wiggling back and forth, and I realized I could not feel them.
I sat up suddenly with that, and tried to pull my foot out of his hands.
But he was having none of it.
His long hands moved up to my lower legs. He steadily massaged them, until the charley horses went away. Gasping, I sank back into the pillows, relieved the pain had faded away.
He looked up at me, his grey eyes having gone very dark, like night. And I blinked at him surprised. What had I done? Was he mad? I actually flinched.
He blinked and turned away, straightening as he flung the blanket back over my legs. Gathering up the wet bandages, I heard him sigh deeply. He turned with a thin smile. "I shall have breakfast sent. Mind you eat it all, you need your strength. And stay put." Nodding at his retreating back I wondered at that. Of course I would eat it all, I was starving.
But why did I have to stay put? Just for a lousy cold and some numb toes? I wanted to see the snow in Rivendell! I knew there wasn't probably as much as there was in the mountains, but still I imagined Rivendell would be breathtaking in a blanket of white.
I dressed slowly, my numb toes only marginally bothering me. I assumed, as they were my extremities, they were the last things to warm up. I slipped my boots on and sat out on my patio squinting at the bright sun on the thin layer of snow.
It became obvious very quickly, that the light on the snow was too much for my eyes. I went back into my room, rubbing them until they watered, and walked right into Lord Elrond. He caught me as I bounced off him and brought me over to the table, where breakfast stood steaming. I could barely see, and glanced down at the table trying to make out what was on the tray of food.
"Marie, I asked you to stay in your room."
"Well that little patio is part of my room," I said defensively still rubbing my smarting eyes.
"Cease Marie." He pulled my hand away from my face, and then lay one of his over my eyes. About to protest, the warmth and the dark made them feel better and I did nothing until he lifted his hand. Blinking, I smiled at him crookedly. "Thanks, that's much better."
Smiling, he reiterated, "Eat your breakfast and stay inside please." He got up and left.
Puzzled by his behavior, I ate my breakfast: there was an egg and rolls and fruit and yogurt and tea which was sweet and pepperminty, with an under flavor I didn't recognize. Undoubtedly cold medicine I figured and finished the pot anyway. Couldn't hurt! I ate everything. I didn't understand why he thought he needed to tell me to eat. My appetite was never a problem here. And though I could not smell really well with the cold, I was still hungry.
Once I finished with breakfast, I sat back and took a deep breath. Stretching I got up and wandered to my small stack of books in Sindarin. They were just long poetical sagas and actually books used by his children when they were first learning to read! I am glad he had held on to them. (Who would have thought the elf lord was sentimental?)
Grabbing one, I flung myself on the bed on my stomach and opened the Lay of Beren and Luthien (one of my favorites! So dramatic and sad!) and started to slowly read the Tengwar script.
It felt like an hour or so later, and I had actually gotten a good quarter of the way through it, making notes on parchment about word usage, as of course the language of poetry is a little different than everyday Sindarin. But my eyes were getting tired and my cold had really stuffed up my sinuses. Carefully, putting the ink and quill away, I flopped back down on the bed and lay my head on my folded arms.
But magic use is not that simple, even for an Elven lord of his stature. It was a big avalanche, and though the brunt of it missed us, it took a lot of energy to keep the tons of snow moved aside, much less big objects like boulders and trees. And as the thundering wall of snow kept coming, I could see that Elrond was beginning to falter. I grabbed the packhorse and nudged my mount close to Rhean and then tried to get all three of us against the cliff wall to avoid falling debris.
And I was mostly successful in this! But though the big bits missed us, it was the smaller bits that got us in the end and whack, a rock the size of a baseball, hit Lord Elrond in the head and he sank sideways in the saddle. I immediately jumped off to catch him, but didn't make it in time to keep him from hitting the ground. Adrenaline rushing, I shoved the milling horses out of my way and dragged the elf lord away from their nervous hooves, up against the cliff wall. I tried to pull the horse close, and Rhean, his master's horse, did crowd against us, but the other two, terrified, leapt away and I lost sight of them through the still falling snow.
Vilya had gone out the minute he had gone unconscious and it was with surprise I could not see the ring on his hand. Wow. Pretty neat! I had forgotten all about that Ring of the Air! I hoped, with a small shudder, it didn't invite any unfriendly attention.
The avalanche was not quite done, however, and a few more tons poured down, cocooning I and the elf lord in snow and debris. And though Rhean had tried to stay with us, the rushing snow covered him from sight and I did not know what happened to him for sometime. A huge pine tree fell over us, and thankfully made a small cave under its branches and provided a surface for the snow to run off. We had a space about four feet by six and filled with the sharp tang of freshly killed pine.
Finally the rushing stopped, and I cringed as I heard rocks fall and the snow settle, I pulled Lord Elrond's limp form closer to me and clutched him to me, terrified.
Now what!!??
I tried to brush the snow away from our faces, terrified that any little move would set the whole mountainside down on us. I tried to see how bad the knock on Lord Elrond's head was but it was about three inches into his hairline and I couldn't get a good angle on it. Luckily, the cold made it bleed slowly. I pulled him close to me and wrapped his cape around him tighter. His head lolled on my shoulder and I brushed his hair off his face. If I hadn't been in fear of our lives, I'd have been swooning to hold my favorite elf lord so close.
How would anyone find us? How would they be able to get us out from under all this with out shifting the snow and debris dangerously?
I hugged Elrond closer, shivering. This was a nightmare. The faint grey light of the snow dimmed and went dark as the day waned. My legs had cramped up something fierce and my bladder was clambering for relief.
Succumbing to hopelessness, I began to cry. Damn snow!! And I had thought it so lovely and enchanting! What an idiot!
Shivering harder, I tried to wrap us both up in our capes and share body warmth, but the damp ground beneath and the walls of snow around us were not conducive to comfort and warmth. And the little heat we gave off began to make the snow drip.
I began to feel sleepy after awhile thankfully and nodded off, curled around Elrond.
It had to be hours later and my own coughing woke me up. My chest hurt. I tried to sit up, but my head swam. Shivering violently, I felt terrible! And the elf lord, his breathing slow and quiet still lay unconscious in my arms. And I knew closed elf eyes was not good!
Coughing again, I squeezed my eyes shut in pain, clutching Elrond closer. I was really afraid my feet had given in to frostbite and I knew if we were not discovered soon, we would both succumb to hypothermia.
Yawning and coughing, I fell asleep again, this time very deeply.
My coughing woke me again, and shivering, I tried to sit up, my legs so numb I wasn't even getting pins and needles. My throat was dry and raw and my head felt two sizes too large for my skull. I could only imagine what Elrond's head must feel like, with the icy cold making it ache something fierce.
I moaned, trying to straighten but I was suddenly clutched around the middle and pulled against inviting warmth (all things considered). Sighing I started to relax and then sat up quickly, almost banging Elrond's chin up his nose. He had apparently awoken while I was asleep and had shifted positions with me. He was now holding me against his chest and we were both wrapped together in our cloaks. He was the source of the feeble warmth I felt and I burrowed down into it.
"Marie." His voice cracked with dryness and cold. "You must not sleep anymore."
"What else is there to do my lord?" I coughed and shivered and he held me closer. "I cannot think straight. I do not think I can play 20 questions right now..." I yawned and my head slid off his shoulder to rest sideways on his arm. "Your head...your head must...really...really hurt....."
"I have had worse Marie. It does ache something fierce right now though." He shook me slightly and I grinned. "Sto-stop jiggling me! I want to sleep. In the morning everything will...be...better.." And my eyes closed as if weighted by rocks and I sunk into darkness..
I woke slowly, head still pounding, but more distantly. I have no idea how long I had slept, maybe not very long as it was still very dark and I could not see the elf lord, though he still held me close. How nice...hugged by my favorite elf lord. Shifting, I felt a hand under my left breast, over my heart. That woke me up some...what...what...was he doing?? I began to feel a little warmer, especially my chest....I opened my eyes wider, there seemed to be a little more light now, sort of bluish in color...maybe the sun was coming up? Then I realized with surprise, the blue light was coming from me!
"Hey, I'm glowing like a swimming pool at night!!" I coughed again, but the pain eased up in my chest. I stared at the blue light and realized foggily, he was using Vilya..
I struggled to sit up and the hand only slightly moved under my breast, the warmth there even greater. "No, no stop that"! I feebly plucked at his arm, waking up more. "You'll kill yourself! Stop using Vilya...stop...you need the energy too...stop it Elrond!" He shifted me to an upright position, his other arm across my middle. He said in my right ear in a dry whisper. "Cease your struggles Marie. I am trying to keep you alive and awake. Do not fight me in this! This is not easy for me..."
My brief squall settled into exhaustion...and I couldn't imagine Lord Elrond's energy being very high right now, either. Sad to say, I really wanted to enjoy the closeness with Elrond but I couldn't keep awake...as a matter of fact, the warmth was making it worse.
"What about you? You-you must stay alive too and using the ring...the ring is bad....don't let Sauron get the ring....Frodo! Hide Frodo!...stop using the ring....it's trouble.."
Elrond jiggled me again and I flopped aback on his chest, his long hair, a cold curtain against my face, it smelled nice, his hair did...some kind of flower... I coughed and felt Elrond's hand shift along my ribs and press harder, the warmth getting more intense and spreading further.
"Why do you speak of Sauron and my ring? He does not know it is here."
"Keep-keep it hidden.. He must not find it...it's too soon, too soon. No ring."
"Marie, do not worry. Sauron will not find my ring. Who is Frodo?"
"Frodo...No, can't say..." I tried to sit up and Elrond adjusted me in front of him. I kicked a pine bough and the snow shook down on both of us."
"How-how much longer.....my ...lord? Until until we...until it is too late...for us?'
I opened my eyes and noticed the light was getting brighter...and it was not blue.
"It is not too late Marie. The outriders will return for us."
"But, but all this snow...will...fall..." I started coughing and though he sent warmth into my chest, I could feel he was getting weaker, because he could not stop my chest pain.
As I sat there in a daze unable to sleep because of his effort, I began to feel more warm which was a relief...maybe Vilya was working? I stirred and shifted saying, "I need to take off my cloak. I am getting warmer." I tried to shift out of his arms. "No, no Marie, it is the onset of hypothermia." He pulled me close again. "Hush. You must leave your cloak on." Still leaving his hand on my ribs, he used the other to pull my hood up and rubbed my ears, which was painful. "Ow!! That hurts!! Stop it!" I tried to pull his hand away. He actually laughed. "There is the Marie I know. Keep fighting, you will stay alive longer!"
But I settled against him feeling sleepy again. All was quiet from the elf lord too. The cold was getting to both of us.
I must have drifted off again (and Elrond too) when I felt snow on my face. I looked up, brushing my face and noticed it was getting lighter. Elrond HAD fallen asleep again, eyes closed and worried I tried to turn in his arms and shake him. Maybe the snow and debris were shifting?
His hand had slipped off my chest and I pulled it out of my tunic and tried chaffing it to get him to stir. His head just lolled against mine.
Okay you guys, do not hit me or cringe too much...let's just blame it on the hypothermia, shall we? But I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek and ran a hand down his soft face (no stubble!!). When would I ever get another chance? He was a pretty darn good elf lord and had been really patient with me. Think of all the trouble I had caused him (stop laughing out there!!) And he still remained my friend and had not (as yet!) tied me up in a sack and left me on the East Road!
Okay, mush time over!
Maybe you all figured it out, but we were finally being rescued. It took another half an hour or so for me to be sure, but along with it getting lighter, I could hear voices! For a brief moment I got scared: It wouldn't be orcs or something would it??
But no, when the daylight finally came in, I saw through my tearing eyes (the light was so bright!!) it was an Elvish face looking down at us. Glorfindel's actually (talk about blond Elvish eyefuls!! Remind me to talk about him sometime. Woo.)
ANYWAY, the snow was carefully cleared away and I said anxiously in a hoarse voice "He's had a rock hit him!! He's been trying to keep me alive with Vilya!! Help him!!" I kept blinking as the light really hurt.
I was lifted out first and carried over to a waiting elf on horseback who bundled me up. I tried to keep my eyes closed but I had to see what happened to Elrond. I hissed at the blood dried on his face as he was carefully lifted out and Glorfindel, already remounted took his lord in his arms. Okay, okay Elrond was all right. I turned my face away from all that snow and sunlight because my eyes were really burning. The elf holding me adjusted me in his arms and covered up my face. His body warmth allowed me to relax and I fell asleep again.
The next two days were miserable. And I spent most of them asleep. The elves with us tried to keep Elrond and I warm and to keep frostbite from spreading.
Elrond steadily improved and by the time we rode into Rivendell late the second night, he was able to sit a horse, albeit with someone riding behind him.
During the day, my eyes had been wrapped against the snow glare (Elronds too for that matter) I only knew we had reached Rivendell because the rider holding me, Calador, said quietly, "We are home mistress." I sighed deeply. A soft bed!! I couldn't wait!!
And I was not really injured, just nursing a nasty cold and my feet were really numb, but I knew a hot bath would fix that!
I was set on my bed and I quickly unwrapped my eyes, wincing just a little. Only a small candle burned behind me. I thankfully pulled off my clothes and tiredly fell back into the quilt. With the last of my strength, I wrapped myself up and fell asleep again.
Ah bliss!
Bliss was going to be in short order for quite awhile. As they say, things were going to get worse before they got better (and that in itself was a relative term.)
The next morning, I awoke, my head feeling stuffed and my throat only kind of raw. Just a winter cold. I sat up coughing and swung out of bed to use the bathroom. Putting my feet on the floor, I realized with a frown, I could not feel the floor. I looked down at my bandaged feet. Not sure why they needed bandaging, but they had, right after we made camp the first night. Elrond had directed Glorfindel, but he seemed to know what he was doing.
Anwyay, I tried to walk and it was really strange, not feeling and I kind of held onto things as I made my way uncertainly to the bathroom.
Finished, I brought out a glass of water with me and sat on the bed and just stared at my feet. Hm. I tried to wiggle my toes. But I couldn't feel anything. Maybe the bandages had been wrapped too tight?
I noticed my legs looked very white and pale, but I hadn't lain out in the sun in ages. (I actually did that a few times in the summer in my patio. The sun felt good, and since I could sort of read Sindarin, I actually indulged in books. Very pleasant)
Sitting there trying to puzzle out myself, I did not notice that Elrond had come in until I looked up and saw him standing at the foot of the bed.
I smiled at him, glad to see him on his feet and looking...well...his ol' Elvish self again. He still had a thin strip of linen wrapped around his forehead and his face looked grave. By this time, surely you know, it was a little late for me to be nervous in front of him sitting there naked, though it still makes me feel vulnerable.
"Hi there!" I blurted out in Old Dwarvish. I stood up weaving and he came over to me and not being able to help myself, I gave him a big hug. "I am so glad to see you awake and functioning! You had me so worried! How do you feel?" He had actually hugged me back briefly and then set me down on the bed. He continued to stand in front of me, his eyes smiling, but his face rather still. "I am well Marie. Thank you for your quick thinking in the avalanche."
I grinned crookedly. "Well thanks for keeping me alive." I put a hand on my heart. "That must have been so taxing!"
He smiled and nodded.
"Hey, did the horses survive?"
"Yes, they actually alerted the riders to our plight."
"I am so glad! I am rather fond of Carenloth."
"Carneloth, Rhean and Fenril are all fine. It is you that has me concerned."
I slumped. Darn. Coughing I looked at my hands. "It's just a cold. I have had worse."
"The cold is not what has me concerned." He bent and swung my legs onto the bed.
"Oh hey wait, I haven't had a hot bath yet! They'll be all right after a good soak in a hot tub!" I got up awkwardly and disdaining his hand, hobbled to the bathroom and not even taking the bandages off, slid into the hot water.
I tried to smile at him and saw with a sinking heart he had that concerned healer look in his face, which made me really nervous and I sank to my neck into the water. Which actually felt really good. I ducked my head and started to use soap everywhere, grateful to get clean. That is until my lower legs started to get pins and needles. I opened my mouth in pain looking at him shocked. What was happening! I tried to scramble out again, but he shook his head and actually held me down and I didn't have the energy to fight him back but squirmed weakly under his hand, starting to cry. "OOOH crap!! Ohh it really hurts!! Let me out!! Stop it!!" I tried futilely to get out from under his hand but he held me until all I could do was cry. The pins and needles had turned into the worst of charley horses and the pain was terrible.
Finally the sharp pain settled into dull agony (not sure which is better) and Elrond finally let me get out. Crawling over the lip of the tub I just stood there weeping until he wrapped me in a towel and brought me back to bed. I didn't even want to look at him. I coughed then several times, and he propped me up with pillows and brought me a bathroom cloth to blow my nose into.
While I was doing that, he had pulled the blanket off my lower torso and got to work unwrapping the wet bandages. Oh lord my legs hurt and my feet!!
But not all of my toes thankfully.
I lay there exhausted and stared at the ceiling while he fussed with the bandages. But after awhile I could not feel anything more and looked down at what he was doing.
Staring at my toes that he was wiggling back and forth, and I realized I could not feel them.
I sat up suddenly with that, and tried to pull my foot out of his hands.
But he was having none of it.
His long hands moved up to my lower legs. He steadily massaged them, until the charley horses went away. Gasping, I sank back into the pillows, relieved the pain had faded away.
He looked up at me, his grey eyes having gone very dark, like night. And I blinked at him surprised. What had I done? Was he mad? I actually flinched.
He blinked and turned away, straightening as he flung the blanket back over my legs. Gathering up the wet bandages, I heard him sigh deeply. He turned with a thin smile. "I shall have breakfast sent. Mind you eat it all, you need your strength. And stay put." Nodding at his retreating back I wondered at that. Of course I would eat it all, I was starving.
But why did I have to stay put? Just for a lousy cold and some numb toes? I wanted to see the snow in Rivendell! I knew there wasn't probably as much as there was in the mountains, but still I imagined Rivendell would be breathtaking in a blanket of white.
I dressed slowly, my numb toes only marginally bothering me. I assumed, as they were my extremities, they were the last things to warm up. I slipped my boots on and sat out on my patio squinting at the bright sun on the thin layer of snow.
It became obvious very quickly, that the light on the snow was too much for my eyes. I went back into my room, rubbing them until they watered, and walked right into Lord Elrond. He caught me as I bounced off him and brought me over to the table, where breakfast stood steaming. I could barely see, and glanced down at the table trying to make out what was on the tray of food.
"Marie, I asked you to stay in your room."
"Well that little patio is part of my room," I said defensively still rubbing my smarting eyes.
"Cease Marie." He pulled my hand away from my face, and then lay one of his over my eyes. About to protest, the warmth and the dark made them feel better and I did nothing until he lifted his hand. Blinking, I smiled at him crookedly. "Thanks, that's much better."
Smiling, he reiterated, "Eat your breakfast and stay inside please." He got up and left.
Puzzled by his behavior, I ate my breakfast: there was an egg and rolls and fruit and yogurt and tea which was sweet and pepperminty, with an under flavor I didn't recognize. Undoubtedly cold medicine I figured and finished the pot anyway. Couldn't hurt! I ate everything. I didn't understand why he thought he needed to tell me to eat. My appetite was never a problem here. And though I could not smell really well with the cold, I was still hungry.
Once I finished with breakfast, I sat back and took a deep breath. Stretching I got up and wandered to my small stack of books in Sindarin. They were just long poetical sagas and actually books used by his children when they were first learning to read! I am glad he had held on to them. (Who would have thought the elf lord was sentimental?)
Grabbing one, I flung myself on the bed on my stomach and opened the Lay of Beren and Luthien (one of my favorites! So dramatic and sad!) and started to slowly read the Tengwar script.
It felt like an hour or so later, and I had actually gotten a good quarter of the way through it, making notes on parchment about word usage, as of course the language of poetry is a little different than everyday Sindarin. But my eyes were getting tired and my cold had really stuffed up my sinuses. Carefully, putting the ink and quill away, I flopped back down on the bed and lay my head on my folded arms.
