It was spitting cold rain when I woke up, which made all my various ills ache and put me in a terrific mood.

The elf lord handed me breakfast once I got up and going. But I only sort of push it around because I wasn't too hungry and I couldn't smell because of my cold and I really wanted to curl up in a BED, no blankets and capes on the cold ground....

"How much further to Rivendell?" I finally asked as we cleaned up camp.

"If the weather does not worsen, three days."

I nodded and folded up the last of the blankets one-handed. It was slow but I got it done. I didn't want to be a complete stick in the mud.

But well, it was raining so mud was hard to avoid. I wanted to try riding Loran's horse and the elf lord let me. I did okay for a while, but the cold made my bad arm useless and my good arm got tired and so by the midday meal I was half-asleep in the saddle and miserable.

All I wanted was the hot broth he heated up. I did not even get down from the horse because I knew I'd just be dead to the world if I got down anywhere near a horizontal surface.

But of course, he wanted to change the dressings and it was easier for him to do the one on my throat if I lay down and so I did...

And when I woke up damn it, it was late afternoon and he decided we might as well stay put as the tent was already set up.

It was after supper and the winter twilight had descended and left the day in darkness. Rain dripped off the edge of the tent overhang and the fire burned cheerily in spite of the damp.

I watched Lord Elrond as he sharpened my dagger and finally asked hoarsely, "What did you do with the body?"

"I made a cairn and said a prayer hoping he would find peace in the halls of his ancestors."

"That is more than I would have done. I would have let the carrion eaters get him."

Elrond shook his head, his eyes catching sparks as he looked at me slightly smiling. "Marie you talk more harsh than you are. You would have probably made a cairn and said a prayer as well. You are not heartless."

I looked at him and rubbed my nose, embarrassed. Well, I would have thought seriously about it.

"Okay, you are right." I shivered anyway. Hollasfar had been nuts...but Loran, Loran I believe had been truly evil.

"I know I am right. You may come from a vastly different place than Middle Earth Marie, but I know your heart is good and you always strive to do the right thing."

Amazed by this revelation, I just smiled back at him and lay back down looking at the fire. I coughed a few times and slowly went to sleep, the sound of the whetstone skirling along my elven blade the last thing I heard.

The next morning, still feeling yucky despite tea and hot cereal, I wanted to get going. Me dragging this trip out because I was feeling bad, was idiocy. I could hold on until we got to Rivendell and then I could

collapse with a clear conscience!

And this morning, because the rain had not let up, I was really cold and achy and so I let the elf lord haul me up in front of him and spent the day half awake watching the wet landscape go by.

He only gave the horses short rests and I, hoping that we could make up lost time, remained as cheerful as I could manage and kept any grousing to a minimum. But I caught myself nodding off a few times during the day.

The next few days, as it remained rather wet and cold, slowed down my energy quite a bit.

Elrond did what he could but we both knew that just getting somewhere that was consistently warm and dry was going to improve things immeasurably.

My throat was actually the least of the problems as it seemed to be healing up well, but the deepest wound on my arm kept draining and even I could tell the elf lord was a bit worried. Every time we took a break he'd wrap his hands around it and send healing into it.

I think it helped to keep it from getting worse, but I just assumed it was slightly infected and the constant jostling around just didn't help.

Though by the end of our trip, he had bound the arm against me in a tight sling to keep it from moving as much as possible.

When we came over the high gorge wall from the northeast that was our last barrier before reaching the Last Homely House, I was very relieved, to say the least.

I was riding with the elf lord now as I was just exhausted all the time...and he had to wake me up to show me we'd arrived.

I was so glad I inadvertently said coughing, "Home! I am so glad to see the Bruinen and the House again!"

Lord Elrond just chuckled behind me.

Even in my half-aware state, I realized I had just called Rivendell, "home."

It was my home, wasn't it?

So the last twenty minutes or so as we went down the steep trail, I sat leaning back against the elf lord thinking of how I had felt when I left, what, 10 days ago? Two weeks? (My sense of time passing was really getting to be quite elvish).

I had left in a flurry of determination to be free and to help Hennar by finding her parents and/or Loran.

I found Loran and he got killed and I got mangled...status quo for ol' Marie.

I sighed deeply.

Elrond asked quietly, "Are you all right Marie?"

"I am fine my lord, just really tired and I am looking forward to a bath."

"A bath might be a little difficult right now with your arm. Perhaps I will send someone to help you sponge off."

"Don't be silly! Of course I can bathe myself. If I cannot use the bathing chamber, surely a big tub or pan will work. I can take my time and be careful."

"All right."

When we entered the courtyard, many elves came out to greet the elf lord's safe return, the foremost being his sons.

Elladan took me from his father and looking at me with a big smile, he said as we headed off to my room, "I see Ada found you but not in one piece it seems."

"No, " I said tiredly. "I found Loran and he turned out to be a worse monster than we thought. Your father had to ah, kill him."

Elladan's face went still and he looked at me and then shook his head. "I am sorry for that then Marie. Hennar has asked about you and has mentioned Loran's possible arrival as if it might improve things."

"Well, I think his death actually HAS improved things. At least for her."

"Well, we shall see."

I coughed a few times, falling silent.

When we reached my room, I was so grateful to be set down on my bed, I just flopped back.

Elladan looked at me, "Are you all right? Can I get you anything?"

"I just need hot water in a tub or a big pan so I can wash myself. Your father doesn't think I should use the bathing room yet." I then pointed to my tightly bandaged arm. "Do you think you could at least get me out of the sling, so I can wash a little easier?"

"Certainly." He came up to me and gently untied the sling his father had made and carefully lowered my arm, which was tight and a little sore. But there you go.

"All right?"

I nodded and he left.

Ahhh. A nice warm bath by the lit fireplace, in my room in Rivendell. I took my time and washed myself thoroughly.

Washing my hair was a bit hard with one hand, but I did the best I could and then dried off, sitting on a big towel in front of the fireplace.

And how silly. I guess I was so used to falling asleep in front of a campfire, once I dried off, I was so exhausted, I curled up in my damp towels and went to sleep, smiling no doubt at the wonderful faint scent of lilac or lavender in the cloth beneath my cheek, which ever it was.

I still can't tell them apart.

I woke because the elf lord had picked me up and was settling me back in the covers.

Yawning, I smiled at him. "Hi. It's good to be home, isn't it? Had a bath and everything. Feel wonderful, except for the arm and the cold."

"Yes, it is good to be home." He felt my forehead and felt along side my jaw.

"Well, there is no fever at least. As for your arm," He picked it up carefully and then held it to send that healing warmth through it. "I am afraid, I am going to have to clean and re-suture it. Working by the campfire was not the optimum situation."

"Okay. Right now?"

"No, tomorrow will be soon enough." He sat a minute looking at me, his face calm and assessing. I looked back at him. I do so like looking at him.

"Marie, are you happy here? Do you miss your land and people?"

I blinked at him, surprised at his question....but then again...

"Funny you should ask that, my lord." I leaned back in the pillows and glanced around my room, the firelight glinting off the floor, and reflecting in a vase of fresh flowers at my bedside. Hearing the soft patter of rain and the fountain, mingling their music.

And the elf lord sitting on the edge of my bed looking at me warmly.

"Only sometimes do I miss my home. I have been so busy doing things here that I have never done at home." I lifted my arm. "And getting into scrapes as you put it, because it is SO different here."

I looked past him sightlessly. "I miss my family sometimes, and I wonder what happened with Val, the friend of mine who helped me get here. Have I been gone a long time, or will no time at all be lost if I ever return?"

My eyes latched onto his again. "I do wonder every now and again if I will ever return to my world."

My eyes dropped to my familiar quilt. "But I do not know that I want to."

Lord Elrond tipped my head up. "But if you do return, remember, you always will have a home here, and welcome."

Nodding, I swallowed a sudden lump in my throat. I was not ready to go.

Or was I?

Shaking my head slightly, I yawned again and realized how tired I was.

Elrond smiled and stood, adjusting the quilt under my chin slightly.

"Sleep well Marie. I will see you in the morning."

"Okay."

He bent and kissed me on the forehead and I drifted off, the rustle of his silk robe the last thing I heard.

I was going to get up and go see Hennar, but my cold just made me want to curl up under my quilt and sleep.

I only got up to get some water and use the bathroom. I noticed a mug of tea next to my bed and smiling slightly, I drank it down. And I allowed myself to make a face.

Flinging the quilt over me, I went back to sleep.

The elf lord was feeling my throat again when I awoke again. My throat felt kind of sore, but not as bad as before.

As a matter of fact, the inside of my throat was bothering me more.

"Can I have some more tea?" I asked hoarsely.

See, I must have been sick, I was actually asking for tea!

He turned and lifted the mug already there on the bedside table and helped me drink it down. It had a thick syrupy strange flavor....

"Oh wait!! Is this the syrup of poppy stuff?' I tried to sit up, but hadn't the energy.

"Yes, Marie. I said I was going to re-suture your arm today."

"Okay, that's right." I shivered inadvertently. "Does it take long to

work? I wanted to see Hennar today."

"You can see her this evening. The two of you can have dinner together."

I nodded yawning.

He bent and gathered me up. "Wow..." I yawned again and lay my head against his shoulder. "..stuff works fast. Faster than last time."

"It's the correct dosage this time." I heard the rumble of his laughter in his chest. My head was beginning to feel strange as he walked down the corridor to his surgery.

I was a little bit afraid, not having had a wonderful time the last time I was in there...but I was so tired. I yawned again, which turned into a cough.

He entered his surgery and lay me on the table. He left and in moments came back, removed the small pillow my head was on and replaced it with a bigger pillow so I was propped up more.

I watched as he laid out his supplies.

And then I had a thought.

"How come....yawn....you just don't send me to sleep like you always do? Why the-the poppy...syrup....stuff."

My eyes were drooping.

He smiled as he lay out some clean linen. "I can send you to sleep easily enough, but I can do little about the pain. Hence the syrup of poppy, which also aids in keeping you in deep sleep as well."

Well, it was working. I was beginning to feel numb and disconnected.

The elf lord lay my bandaged arm out and began to unwrap it.

I yawned again and felt myself drifting into darkness. It was a little bit vertiginous. Different than last time. I was feeling a bit dizzy, as if I was dropping.

A warm hand lay across my eyes...

.....and with a thump, I hit the floor hard......

This then, concludes A Winter's Interlude.......Thanks so much for plowing through all this!! I had a wonderful time indulging myself here!

I shall be writing more Marie...never you fear.

I have plans for the third section of this tale....an angst-fest a-go-go....

In the meantime, I shall be soon posting a little R-rated business concerning Marie and Elrond for those who wanted the two of them to get friendlier....and perhaps, you'll be amused! (Thanks Lassar for the idea!!)