Fanuiriel took a deep breath as Elladan rushed her through the corridors of
the House to his father's surgery, which was connected to his study. She
did not have to do much play acting as her arm hurt a great deal.
Elladan burst into the study, causing his father to stand up in alarm.. "Ada! Fanuiriel has broken her arm! I have made a temporary splint, but---"
"Calm down Elladan. Bring her in here."
The elder elf quickly lit the candles in the surgery as Elladan laid the she-elf on a high table draped in white with a small pillow for her head.
Though the pain was great Fanuiriel had enough presence of mind to know she must be very careful with Lord Elrond, who would not miss a thing.
Elrond turned to the she-elf lying on the table and put a gentle hand on her broken arm. "How did this happen?"
"Fanuiriel accompanied me to the apple orchards and decided to wait for us in the grove near the cider house," explained Elladan. "We were bringing back cider and lunch and I heard her scream and saw her falling from a high branch."
Elrond looked down at the pale face of the she-elf as he gently unwrapped the splint Elladan had put on her arm.
"I am-am sorry my lord, " Fanuiriel said breathlessly, "I did not mean to fall. I was not paying close attention to where I was climbing." She hissed as Elrond moved her arm slowly.
"Mistakes happen Fanuiriel. Do not worry." He looked down at her and Fanuiriel was glad to see he was smiling in a kindly manner. "This will be a bit painful, so I think sleep would be best." He lay a hand over her eyes and the small elf's head slipped to the side with a sigh.
Elladan, holding a roll of bandages, shook his head at the now unconscious elf.
As his father set the bone, Elladan said thoughtfully, "But I could not understand why she went out on the limb she did Ada, it was too thin."
"As she said Elladan, she was probably watching for you and was not paying attention." Elrond smiled to himself as he worked thinking of reasons a she- elf might be incautious. "This is a clean break, she will probably only need the splint for two weeks." Tying off the bandages, he turned to look at his son, who was frowning down at Fanuiriel. He put a hand on his shoulder. "Thanks for your help Elladan. Take her back to her rooms. She should awaken soon. And I am sure she would like to see a friendly face when she opens her eyes."
Elladan smiled slightly, gently lifted Fanuiriel up and watching her sleeping face said, "All right Ada."
"Tell her I shall look in on her later."
Elladan nodded and left the surgery, missing his father's fond smile as he walked past.
Fanuiriel awoke but was careful not to open her eyes. Some one was in the room with her. Carefully looking under her lashes, she saw that it was Elladan sitting in the chair next to her! How wonderful!
Moaning slightly, she opened her eyes, fluttering her lashes. Smiling sleepily she said "Elladan."
"Fanuiriel! I am glad to see you awaken! Father says you will probably have to keep your arm splinted for two weeks. He will come and see you later." Standing, the young elf stretched. "Well I am glad to see you are all right. I must go and finish my errands."
Squeezing her hand in a friendly fashion, Elladan left.
Fanuiriel lay there, mouth slightly open. That's it? He was just going to get up and leave?
Fanuiriel frowned as she sank back against her pillows. Stupid broken arm! She turned on her side awkwardly and stared out the window with its view of a fern garden and a small frog pool.
This was not all going to plan!
Nobody understood. Nobody. In most elvish families, when making the decision to travel to the West, all decided to go or to stay. Fanuiriel's mother had decided to leave when Celebrian had. She had been one of Celebrian's oldest friends, having journeyed from Lothlorien to Rivendell with Celebrian when she had first met Elrond. So, when Celebrian made her decision, Ramala decided to go with her.(Fanuiriel's father had died in a mountain slide many years earlier) As for Fanuiriel, she had been going through a rebellious stage and had had decided quite firmly and irrevocably she was going to stay in Middle Earth. And marry, and have children.
And because of her mother's friendship with Celebrian, Fanuiriel had always been close to the children of Elrond.
Cautiously, she had first attempted to get close to Elrohir a few years back. But lovely as he was, Fanuiriel could not distract him from his horses and love of adventuring. Even though she had spent days in the saddle prattling about breeds and bloodlines. He had only kissed her once on the cheek after a particularly breathless dance that Midsummer's Eve. She had soon given up on him. Though, he still made her sigh sometimes.
She smiled slightly. Elladan's interest she had been trying to encourage for over a year. And he, like Elrohir, had remained elusive. She had stepped up her campaign in recent months and had begun to feel encouraged that Elladan was becoming more interested. At the eve of Yule celebration she and Elladan had danced most of the evening. And the night had been made even more wonderful by the fact he kissed her out on the terrace awash in moonlight, their breaths frosty and ice sparkling in their hair.
Elladan at least was more outgoing than his twin. And he was worth the extra effort, after all, he was oldest and would one day become Lord of Rivendell.
By the Valar, Fanuiriel vowed, she would marry one of Lord Elrond's sons.
Estel had finally finished with the chickens and was riding slowly back to the House. About a half mile away, he could see someone riding pell mell for the gates. What was happening? Who could be in such a rush?
He spurred Angren on down the road.
Putting Angren back in the stables took him more time than he expected, because Estel noticed he had a left fore shoe loose. So a visit to the blacksmith delayed his return to the house.
Once he was done and just about to ascend the stairs to the main hall, he realized he'd left his tally of chickens in his saddlebag and that had been left in Angren's stall. He rushed back down the stairs. Grabbing the saddlebags from the hook, he rubbed his stallion's nose and ran back to the house.
Running quickly up the stairs, he tripped on one of the dangling straps of the saddlebag, banging his knee painfully into the top step.
Muttering a few good curses in Quenya he had learned from Glorfindel, he limped into the house, rubbing his knee as he went down the corridor.
Finally he stopped and sat on a bench in a bar of sunlight, still rubbing his knee. What was he rushing for? He had no idea where the rider had gone in the House!
Rising slowly with an annoyed hiss of pain, he limped slowly down the corridor until he got to his father's study. Just about to enter, Elladan came out, holding an unconscious Fanuiriel in his arms!
"Wha-what happened Elladan? "
"Fanuiriel fell from an apple tree and broke her arm. Ada says it will heal in two weeks."
Estel looked at the pale face on the she-elf and felt the blood drain out his own. Poor Fanuiriel! Then his faced cleared with a thought as his brother said, "I must get her to her rooms."
"Of course." Estel moved out of the way and a slow smile filled his face. Well, if she was going to be recuperating, she would probably need entertaining and diversion!
This might not be as bad a day as he had imagined!
Estel, thinking of Fanuiriel, opened his father's study door, forgetting his knee momentarily, as he limped to his father's desk, holding out the report.
Elrond was at his medical cabinet putting away the supplies he had just used for Fanuiriel and looked around the open door as his son came in.
"I have counted the laying hens, father, and made notes about the flocks and the numbers here as well."
"Excellent Estel." His father, leaving the cabinet open, came around the desk and taking the report, laid it behind him. Taking his sons arm, he sat him on the couch under the large window that let in the afternoon sun.
"And what my son, have you done to yourself now? The chickens give you some trouble?"
"I, I haven't done.oh, oh my knee." Estel looked down embarrassed. Oh of course Ada would notice. "I tripped coming up the steps," he said in a low voice. Estel looked up with panic. What if Ada said he could not walk for a few days! How would he entertain Fanuiriel?
"It is nothing Ada, really." He rubbed it briskly wincing. Oh yes it was indeed something. "It will go away." He stood awkwardly and smiled at his father's impassive face. "Well, I have sword practice soon, so I better go get ready."
Trying to walk quickly out of the study, he felt his father's implacable hold on his arm and his heart sank. No!
"Ada! Please! It is nothing! I don't want to miss sword practice, Glorfindel was going to show me a really interesting parrying technique today and."
Estel found himself laying down on the couch, his father already undoing his trews and sliding them off to expose his legs.
Estel bit his lip as his father gently but thoroughly examined his knee. He left his hand on the injury for a moment and Estel felt his familiar healing warmth sink into the cartilage. He sighed as the pain and the tightness faded.
"No sword practice today Estel, and probably not for a few weeks, depending on how quickly you heal. You have badly bruised yourself and I am afraid you will have to keep off of it at least a week."
"No Ada! I can't, I-I will miss all my lessons! I will get rusty if I do not practice! Please Ada!"
Now panicked, Estel sat up and swung his legs off the couch as his father had moved away to his cabinet of supplies. Hastily putting his trews on, he got his legs tangled and he fell again, on the already injured knee. A cry of pain escaped him and he grabbed the injured leg and rocked back and forth on the floor, now in agony, tears streaking his face.
Elrond disturbed by Estel's panic, knelt and carefully picked his son up. Returning him to the couch, he pulled off his tangled trews with difficulty because Estel did not want to take his hands off his hurting knee.
Finally Elrond got him undressed again.
He paused a moment to look at his son's now tear-streaked face in consternation. "Estel, what is wrong my son? Something is seriously bothering you, and it is not the injury."
"Yes, yes it is!" Estel did not care he was shouting. Everything had gotten ruined. "It's my stupid Edain knee! And now, now I'll be laid up for a week and I won't be able to do anything or see anyone." He awkwardly turned away from his father to bury his embarrassment in the back of the couch.
"Estel, look at me."
He shook his head and put one of the small throw pillows over his head.
Elrond sighed and slipped a hand beneath the pillow to rest it on his son's hot furrowed forehead, sending him to sleep. With a sigh, Estel relaxed utterly and Elrond, carefully adjusting him on the couch, efficiently wrapped up the knee, first rubbing in gently a great deal of muscle relaxing salve.
Lifting the slumbering boy, he took him out of the study to his rooms, just down the hall from his own suite.
Laying him on his bed, he pulled the blanket down and lightly covered him. Bending slowly, searching his foster sons face as if he could read what was upsetting him there, he gently kissed him on the forehead.
Perhaps one of his other sons could tell him what was troubling Estel.
But he was no closer to an answer by evening time, when he had talked with both elves at supper.
Remembering his discussion with Estel from the night before, Elrond went thoughtfully to his room, bearing a goblet of medicine and a plate with a selection of food from the meal just taken.
Knocking, he opened the door and slipped into the room. Putting the food and goblet on a nearby table, Elrond went and lit the branch of candles at Estel's bedside and then drew the curtains closed.
Estel, still asleep, lay there frowning and mumbling in some dream. Shaking his head, Elrond went and put a hand on his son's brow, settling his dreams and calling him from sleep. In a few moments, his foster son blinked and smiled sleepily at him. Then his eyes went wide and he sat up quickly and looked at his bandaged knee. It hadn't been a dream! He slammed a hand on the coverlet and then looked at his father sheepishly.
Ada would never understand.
He took the goblet his father handed to him and drank it quickly holding his breath because he knew it would be vile tasting. Adjusting the pillows behind the young man's back, he got him to sit up and handed him the plate of food. Estel looked down at it. Chicken stuffed with honey and fruit. One of his favorites. He sighed and put the plate on the bedside table and stared down at his hands.
Feeling the mattress shift as his father sat down, he studiously avoided Elrond's eyes.
"My son. Please, what is troubling you?" He tipped the lowered chin up and caught his son's attention and stared deep into his eyes. So unhappy! What was it?
"Has some one hurt your feelings Estel?"
"No."
"Are you worried about your studies? I have gotten nothing but good reports from your tutors."
"No."
"Are your brothers behaving?"
"Yes."
Elrond puzzled by the short responses, sifted through his son's behavior over the last two days and then asked quietly.
"Has a she-elf rebuffed you?"
"N-no. No, she hasn't."
Estel winced at his inadvertent admission. Ada! He always found out! He could never hide anything.
Deciding not to press further, Elrond, moved up on the bed and gathered his son to him. In moments, he felt the soft sobs. He rubbed the young man's back soothingly and let him have his cry.
When it had settled into hiccups, he lay him back, and rubbed a hand down his tear-stained face. Getting up, he went and poured a glass of water from the pitcher in the bathroom.
Bringing it to him, Estel took it and drained it and then put the glass aside. Elrond sighed deeply, his eyes focused on his son's tear-stained one. It was not easy growing up here surrounded by elves whose childhoods had disappeared before his great-great grandparent's great-great grand- parents were conceived.
Brushing the tousled hair off his face, he let his hand rest again on his brow and sent him back to dreamless sleep.
Settling him comfortably, he left one candle burning and left.
A few days went by and Elrond's two patients were bored.
Fanuiriel was joined frequently in her recuperation by a group of her friends who came and sat with her out on her terrace and chatted comfortably. Fanuiriel had even persuaded her best friend, Samarh to talk to Elladan and see if she could persuade him to visit.
And one afternoon he did, all the she-elves taking the not so subtle hint from Samarh that Fanuiriel wished to be left alone with the handsome son of Elrond.
Oblivious to the machinations, Elladan sat down, watching the other elves leaving in a flurry of color and low voices.
"Where are they off to?"
"Oh, I guess they have plans to go riding." She glanced down at her neatly splinted arm. "I guess I cannot do that now."
"No, I guess not, "Elladan sat back on the bench along the terrace wall, idly twirling a flower. "What DO you do all day Fanuiriel?"
"Well, I sit and listen to my friends and sometimes we walk about the rose garden. But with my arm, there is not much I can do and I am not the best of companions. I have been very lonely lately." She sniffed sadly adding, "And my arm hurts now and again."
Elladan sat forward. "Well, that can easily be remedied. I shall talk to Ada." He rose smiling and put a hand on her shoulder. "It's no problem Fanuiriel. Glad to help you out."
He added with a chuckle. "You and Estel should get together. He has injured his knee and cannot get out of bed until Ada says so. Not for a few days more anyway. He is as miserable as a wet hen."
And with a cheery salute, he strode out, his dark green robe snapping behind him.
Fanuiriel gaped at him. Was he that dense?
She flopped back against her pillows and stared out at the slender aspen nearby bowing and swaying in the pleasant breeze. Was Elladan going to ignore her as well? What else could she do to attract him? She looked at her splinted arm again. Even though the broken arm had not been part of her initial plan, she had felt sure that being injured would make Elladan hover like a moth to a flame.
But no, he had been friendly and cheerful.and this had been only his second visit.
What was left to do? He really was just like Elrohir. Pleasant, but.oblivious. How was she going to prick their complacency?
Hm. Perhaps, jealousy?
But with whom? Who would they feel jealous of?
She smiled slightly as a thought crossed her mind. What about that puppy Estel? Even though he was edain, he was still one of Elrond's sons. He was always presented as such.
But would courting Estel raise his brothers ire.or their jealousy?
This would be very delicate work.
Estel flung the book aside. He did not want to read about the herbs of South Ithilien. He did not want to make entries into his journal and he did not want to practice his formal Quenya calligraphy.
Throwing himself back into his pillows, he moved his stiff and still painful knee somewhat. He glared at it and brought a hand to the neat binding his father had done. Maybe he should get his new dagger and cut it off!! One-legged Estel, the wonder of Rivendell!
He had not remained alone in his room all this time, his brothers had visited as well as Glorfindel, who had gotten the wonderful idea to carry him out like a little baby to the practice field so he could watch the archers. That had been a humiliating afternoon.
And what had been worse, when Glorfindel was carrying him back, a she- elf had followed them all the way to his room, chatting animatedly with the golden-haired elf lord and not a word to Estel making him feel like an unwanted sack of contaminated flour.
Placing a hand over his face, he indulged in a good bout of self- pity.
Startled, when he felt a soft hand on his arm, he looked up and saw Fanuiriel!! It must be a dream! Fanuiriel was standing there at his bedside with a concerned smile on her face. She was wearing a lavender gown and as Estel inhaled, he smelt the delicate scent of violets. What was she doing here?
And then he saw her splinted arm. Oh that's right.. She must be bored too.
He sat up and grinned at the elf maid. Well, at least she was here!
Estel scooted aside and patted the edge of the mattress and Fanuiriel delicately sat down. "I am sorry about your arm. Does it hurt much?"
"I am sorry about your knee." Fanuiriel repeated, "Does it hurt much?"
They both laughed and Estel shook his head. "Not much."
"Not much!" Fanuiriel laughed again.
Fanuiriel picked up the book Estel had flung aside and looked through it idly a moment. Herbs! If only it had been about brave deeds and heroes and.wait...
"So, you want to be a healer like your father?"
"Oh yes! Though I do not imagine I shall ever be as good as he is."
"Oh certainly you can! You just have to continue studying like you have been doing." She leaned forward with a big smile. "I am sure you can be whatever you put your mind to Estel."
The young man grinned from ear to ear. She thought he was something! She was not treating him like he was too young or foolish. "I also want to be a great warrior too. Like my brothers AND father. They are all excellent with their swords. Ada sometimes lets me not only watch his practice, but will even cross steel with me. It is exciting because I never know exactly what move he'll make. Why a week ago, he tried this lunge that---" Suddenly he saw that Fanuiriel was looking around the room and he went quiet. Perhaps talking swords was not very interesting to her. What would a maid like to talk about?
"Your-your dress is very pretty."
Fanuiriel turned back, her smile sparkling, "Why thank you Estel! What a nice thing to say! You certainly have a lovely way with words."
Estel blushed and looked down. He did not know what else to say.
Fanuiriel looked at his bowed head. This one was so easy! Much easier than his elvish brothers. Only a little effort would be needed to lead him along like a starveling to a feast.
But he could not eat too much too quickly, as he might get sick!
She rose gracefully from the bed and put a hand on his shoulder. "I must go Estel. But I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed talking to you. May I come again?"
"Oh yes," He looked up at her with shining eyes. "I would like that very much!"
Fanuiriel smiled sweetly and then bent and kissed him softly on the cheek. "Well then I shall see you.soon."
With a small wave, Fanuiriel left.
Estel, stunned by the unexpected kiss, just lay there unmoving.
He said nothing when an hour later his father came in to inspect his knee and leave him a goblet of medicine to ease his pain.
"Estel? Are you all right?" His father asked as he finished up. "Is the knee giving you much pain?"
"No, no, Ada. I am fine. Just fine. Thank you!" Estel grinned at his father, brushing his hair back with both hands. "I could use another book on herbs, or perhaps...field dressings!"
"Certainly. I shall go to the library and see what I can find."
"Thank you Ada."
Shaking his head at his son's whimsical nature, the elf lord took his bandages and left.
It amazed the elf lord how his edain son could go from the depths of misery to the heights of happiness in such a short time. But perhaps he was healing more rapidly because of his age. He had not touched the goblet of pain reliever he had left in the morning with breakfast.
Elladan burst into the study, causing his father to stand up in alarm.. "Ada! Fanuiriel has broken her arm! I have made a temporary splint, but---"
"Calm down Elladan. Bring her in here."
The elder elf quickly lit the candles in the surgery as Elladan laid the she-elf on a high table draped in white with a small pillow for her head.
Though the pain was great Fanuiriel had enough presence of mind to know she must be very careful with Lord Elrond, who would not miss a thing.
Elrond turned to the she-elf lying on the table and put a gentle hand on her broken arm. "How did this happen?"
"Fanuiriel accompanied me to the apple orchards and decided to wait for us in the grove near the cider house," explained Elladan. "We were bringing back cider and lunch and I heard her scream and saw her falling from a high branch."
Elrond looked down at the pale face of the she-elf as he gently unwrapped the splint Elladan had put on her arm.
"I am-am sorry my lord, " Fanuiriel said breathlessly, "I did not mean to fall. I was not paying close attention to where I was climbing." She hissed as Elrond moved her arm slowly.
"Mistakes happen Fanuiriel. Do not worry." He looked down at her and Fanuiriel was glad to see he was smiling in a kindly manner. "This will be a bit painful, so I think sleep would be best." He lay a hand over her eyes and the small elf's head slipped to the side with a sigh.
Elladan, holding a roll of bandages, shook his head at the now unconscious elf.
As his father set the bone, Elladan said thoughtfully, "But I could not understand why she went out on the limb she did Ada, it was too thin."
"As she said Elladan, she was probably watching for you and was not paying attention." Elrond smiled to himself as he worked thinking of reasons a she- elf might be incautious. "This is a clean break, she will probably only need the splint for two weeks." Tying off the bandages, he turned to look at his son, who was frowning down at Fanuiriel. He put a hand on his shoulder. "Thanks for your help Elladan. Take her back to her rooms. She should awaken soon. And I am sure she would like to see a friendly face when she opens her eyes."
Elladan smiled slightly, gently lifted Fanuiriel up and watching her sleeping face said, "All right Ada."
"Tell her I shall look in on her later."
Elladan nodded and left the surgery, missing his father's fond smile as he walked past.
Fanuiriel awoke but was careful not to open her eyes. Some one was in the room with her. Carefully looking under her lashes, she saw that it was Elladan sitting in the chair next to her! How wonderful!
Moaning slightly, she opened her eyes, fluttering her lashes. Smiling sleepily she said "Elladan."
"Fanuiriel! I am glad to see you awaken! Father says you will probably have to keep your arm splinted for two weeks. He will come and see you later." Standing, the young elf stretched. "Well I am glad to see you are all right. I must go and finish my errands."
Squeezing her hand in a friendly fashion, Elladan left.
Fanuiriel lay there, mouth slightly open. That's it? He was just going to get up and leave?
Fanuiriel frowned as she sank back against her pillows. Stupid broken arm! She turned on her side awkwardly and stared out the window with its view of a fern garden and a small frog pool.
This was not all going to plan!
Nobody understood. Nobody. In most elvish families, when making the decision to travel to the West, all decided to go or to stay. Fanuiriel's mother had decided to leave when Celebrian had. She had been one of Celebrian's oldest friends, having journeyed from Lothlorien to Rivendell with Celebrian when she had first met Elrond. So, when Celebrian made her decision, Ramala decided to go with her.(Fanuiriel's father had died in a mountain slide many years earlier) As for Fanuiriel, she had been going through a rebellious stage and had had decided quite firmly and irrevocably she was going to stay in Middle Earth. And marry, and have children.
And because of her mother's friendship with Celebrian, Fanuiriel had always been close to the children of Elrond.
Cautiously, she had first attempted to get close to Elrohir a few years back. But lovely as he was, Fanuiriel could not distract him from his horses and love of adventuring. Even though she had spent days in the saddle prattling about breeds and bloodlines. He had only kissed her once on the cheek after a particularly breathless dance that Midsummer's Eve. She had soon given up on him. Though, he still made her sigh sometimes.
She smiled slightly. Elladan's interest she had been trying to encourage for over a year. And he, like Elrohir, had remained elusive. She had stepped up her campaign in recent months and had begun to feel encouraged that Elladan was becoming more interested. At the eve of Yule celebration she and Elladan had danced most of the evening. And the night had been made even more wonderful by the fact he kissed her out on the terrace awash in moonlight, their breaths frosty and ice sparkling in their hair.
Elladan at least was more outgoing than his twin. And he was worth the extra effort, after all, he was oldest and would one day become Lord of Rivendell.
By the Valar, Fanuiriel vowed, she would marry one of Lord Elrond's sons.
Estel had finally finished with the chickens and was riding slowly back to the House. About a half mile away, he could see someone riding pell mell for the gates. What was happening? Who could be in such a rush?
He spurred Angren on down the road.
Putting Angren back in the stables took him more time than he expected, because Estel noticed he had a left fore shoe loose. So a visit to the blacksmith delayed his return to the house.
Once he was done and just about to ascend the stairs to the main hall, he realized he'd left his tally of chickens in his saddlebag and that had been left in Angren's stall. He rushed back down the stairs. Grabbing the saddlebags from the hook, he rubbed his stallion's nose and ran back to the house.
Running quickly up the stairs, he tripped on one of the dangling straps of the saddlebag, banging his knee painfully into the top step.
Muttering a few good curses in Quenya he had learned from Glorfindel, he limped into the house, rubbing his knee as he went down the corridor.
Finally he stopped and sat on a bench in a bar of sunlight, still rubbing his knee. What was he rushing for? He had no idea where the rider had gone in the House!
Rising slowly with an annoyed hiss of pain, he limped slowly down the corridor until he got to his father's study. Just about to enter, Elladan came out, holding an unconscious Fanuiriel in his arms!
"Wha-what happened Elladan? "
"Fanuiriel fell from an apple tree and broke her arm. Ada says it will heal in two weeks."
Estel looked at the pale face on the she-elf and felt the blood drain out his own. Poor Fanuiriel! Then his faced cleared with a thought as his brother said, "I must get her to her rooms."
"Of course." Estel moved out of the way and a slow smile filled his face. Well, if she was going to be recuperating, she would probably need entertaining and diversion!
This might not be as bad a day as he had imagined!
Estel, thinking of Fanuiriel, opened his father's study door, forgetting his knee momentarily, as he limped to his father's desk, holding out the report.
Elrond was at his medical cabinet putting away the supplies he had just used for Fanuiriel and looked around the open door as his son came in.
"I have counted the laying hens, father, and made notes about the flocks and the numbers here as well."
"Excellent Estel." His father, leaving the cabinet open, came around the desk and taking the report, laid it behind him. Taking his sons arm, he sat him on the couch under the large window that let in the afternoon sun.
"And what my son, have you done to yourself now? The chickens give you some trouble?"
"I, I haven't done.oh, oh my knee." Estel looked down embarrassed. Oh of course Ada would notice. "I tripped coming up the steps," he said in a low voice. Estel looked up with panic. What if Ada said he could not walk for a few days! How would he entertain Fanuiriel?
"It is nothing Ada, really." He rubbed it briskly wincing. Oh yes it was indeed something. "It will go away." He stood awkwardly and smiled at his father's impassive face. "Well, I have sword practice soon, so I better go get ready."
Trying to walk quickly out of the study, he felt his father's implacable hold on his arm and his heart sank. No!
"Ada! Please! It is nothing! I don't want to miss sword practice, Glorfindel was going to show me a really interesting parrying technique today and."
Estel found himself laying down on the couch, his father already undoing his trews and sliding them off to expose his legs.
Estel bit his lip as his father gently but thoroughly examined his knee. He left his hand on the injury for a moment and Estel felt his familiar healing warmth sink into the cartilage. He sighed as the pain and the tightness faded.
"No sword practice today Estel, and probably not for a few weeks, depending on how quickly you heal. You have badly bruised yourself and I am afraid you will have to keep off of it at least a week."
"No Ada! I can't, I-I will miss all my lessons! I will get rusty if I do not practice! Please Ada!"
Now panicked, Estel sat up and swung his legs off the couch as his father had moved away to his cabinet of supplies. Hastily putting his trews on, he got his legs tangled and he fell again, on the already injured knee. A cry of pain escaped him and he grabbed the injured leg and rocked back and forth on the floor, now in agony, tears streaking his face.
Elrond disturbed by Estel's panic, knelt and carefully picked his son up. Returning him to the couch, he pulled off his tangled trews with difficulty because Estel did not want to take his hands off his hurting knee.
Finally Elrond got him undressed again.
He paused a moment to look at his son's now tear-streaked face in consternation. "Estel, what is wrong my son? Something is seriously bothering you, and it is not the injury."
"Yes, yes it is!" Estel did not care he was shouting. Everything had gotten ruined. "It's my stupid Edain knee! And now, now I'll be laid up for a week and I won't be able to do anything or see anyone." He awkwardly turned away from his father to bury his embarrassment in the back of the couch.
"Estel, look at me."
He shook his head and put one of the small throw pillows over his head.
Elrond sighed and slipped a hand beneath the pillow to rest it on his son's hot furrowed forehead, sending him to sleep. With a sigh, Estel relaxed utterly and Elrond, carefully adjusting him on the couch, efficiently wrapped up the knee, first rubbing in gently a great deal of muscle relaxing salve.
Lifting the slumbering boy, he took him out of the study to his rooms, just down the hall from his own suite.
Laying him on his bed, he pulled the blanket down and lightly covered him. Bending slowly, searching his foster sons face as if he could read what was upsetting him there, he gently kissed him on the forehead.
Perhaps one of his other sons could tell him what was troubling Estel.
But he was no closer to an answer by evening time, when he had talked with both elves at supper.
Remembering his discussion with Estel from the night before, Elrond went thoughtfully to his room, bearing a goblet of medicine and a plate with a selection of food from the meal just taken.
Knocking, he opened the door and slipped into the room. Putting the food and goblet on a nearby table, Elrond went and lit the branch of candles at Estel's bedside and then drew the curtains closed.
Estel, still asleep, lay there frowning and mumbling in some dream. Shaking his head, Elrond went and put a hand on his son's brow, settling his dreams and calling him from sleep. In a few moments, his foster son blinked and smiled sleepily at him. Then his eyes went wide and he sat up quickly and looked at his bandaged knee. It hadn't been a dream! He slammed a hand on the coverlet and then looked at his father sheepishly.
Ada would never understand.
He took the goblet his father handed to him and drank it quickly holding his breath because he knew it would be vile tasting. Adjusting the pillows behind the young man's back, he got him to sit up and handed him the plate of food. Estel looked down at it. Chicken stuffed with honey and fruit. One of his favorites. He sighed and put the plate on the bedside table and stared down at his hands.
Feeling the mattress shift as his father sat down, he studiously avoided Elrond's eyes.
"My son. Please, what is troubling you?" He tipped the lowered chin up and caught his son's attention and stared deep into his eyes. So unhappy! What was it?
"Has some one hurt your feelings Estel?"
"No."
"Are you worried about your studies? I have gotten nothing but good reports from your tutors."
"No."
"Are your brothers behaving?"
"Yes."
Elrond puzzled by the short responses, sifted through his son's behavior over the last two days and then asked quietly.
"Has a she-elf rebuffed you?"
"N-no. No, she hasn't."
Estel winced at his inadvertent admission. Ada! He always found out! He could never hide anything.
Deciding not to press further, Elrond, moved up on the bed and gathered his son to him. In moments, he felt the soft sobs. He rubbed the young man's back soothingly and let him have his cry.
When it had settled into hiccups, he lay him back, and rubbed a hand down his tear-stained face. Getting up, he went and poured a glass of water from the pitcher in the bathroom.
Bringing it to him, Estel took it and drained it and then put the glass aside. Elrond sighed deeply, his eyes focused on his son's tear-stained one. It was not easy growing up here surrounded by elves whose childhoods had disappeared before his great-great grandparent's great-great grand- parents were conceived.
Brushing the tousled hair off his face, he let his hand rest again on his brow and sent him back to dreamless sleep.
Settling him comfortably, he left one candle burning and left.
A few days went by and Elrond's two patients were bored.
Fanuiriel was joined frequently in her recuperation by a group of her friends who came and sat with her out on her terrace and chatted comfortably. Fanuiriel had even persuaded her best friend, Samarh to talk to Elladan and see if she could persuade him to visit.
And one afternoon he did, all the she-elves taking the not so subtle hint from Samarh that Fanuiriel wished to be left alone with the handsome son of Elrond.
Oblivious to the machinations, Elladan sat down, watching the other elves leaving in a flurry of color and low voices.
"Where are they off to?"
"Oh, I guess they have plans to go riding." She glanced down at her neatly splinted arm. "I guess I cannot do that now."
"No, I guess not, "Elladan sat back on the bench along the terrace wall, idly twirling a flower. "What DO you do all day Fanuiriel?"
"Well, I sit and listen to my friends and sometimes we walk about the rose garden. But with my arm, there is not much I can do and I am not the best of companions. I have been very lonely lately." She sniffed sadly adding, "And my arm hurts now and again."
Elladan sat forward. "Well, that can easily be remedied. I shall talk to Ada." He rose smiling and put a hand on her shoulder. "It's no problem Fanuiriel. Glad to help you out."
He added with a chuckle. "You and Estel should get together. He has injured his knee and cannot get out of bed until Ada says so. Not for a few days more anyway. He is as miserable as a wet hen."
And with a cheery salute, he strode out, his dark green robe snapping behind him.
Fanuiriel gaped at him. Was he that dense?
She flopped back against her pillows and stared out at the slender aspen nearby bowing and swaying in the pleasant breeze. Was Elladan going to ignore her as well? What else could she do to attract him? She looked at her splinted arm again. Even though the broken arm had not been part of her initial plan, she had felt sure that being injured would make Elladan hover like a moth to a flame.
But no, he had been friendly and cheerful.and this had been only his second visit.
What was left to do? He really was just like Elrohir. Pleasant, but.oblivious. How was she going to prick their complacency?
Hm. Perhaps, jealousy?
But with whom? Who would they feel jealous of?
She smiled slightly as a thought crossed her mind. What about that puppy Estel? Even though he was edain, he was still one of Elrond's sons. He was always presented as such.
But would courting Estel raise his brothers ire.or their jealousy?
This would be very delicate work.
Estel flung the book aside. He did not want to read about the herbs of South Ithilien. He did not want to make entries into his journal and he did not want to practice his formal Quenya calligraphy.
Throwing himself back into his pillows, he moved his stiff and still painful knee somewhat. He glared at it and brought a hand to the neat binding his father had done. Maybe he should get his new dagger and cut it off!! One-legged Estel, the wonder of Rivendell!
He had not remained alone in his room all this time, his brothers had visited as well as Glorfindel, who had gotten the wonderful idea to carry him out like a little baby to the practice field so he could watch the archers. That had been a humiliating afternoon.
And what had been worse, when Glorfindel was carrying him back, a she- elf had followed them all the way to his room, chatting animatedly with the golden-haired elf lord and not a word to Estel making him feel like an unwanted sack of contaminated flour.
Placing a hand over his face, he indulged in a good bout of self- pity.
Startled, when he felt a soft hand on his arm, he looked up and saw Fanuiriel!! It must be a dream! Fanuiriel was standing there at his bedside with a concerned smile on her face. She was wearing a lavender gown and as Estel inhaled, he smelt the delicate scent of violets. What was she doing here?
And then he saw her splinted arm. Oh that's right.. She must be bored too.
He sat up and grinned at the elf maid. Well, at least she was here!
Estel scooted aside and patted the edge of the mattress and Fanuiriel delicately sat down. "I am sorry about your arm. Does it hurt much?"
"I am sorry about your knee." Fanuiriel repeated, "Does it hurt much?"
They both laughed and Estel shook his head. "Not much."
"Not much!" Fanuiriel laughed again.
Fanuiriel picked up the book Estel had flung aside and looked through it idly a moment. Herbs! If only it had been about brave deeds and heroes and.wait...
"So, you want to be a healer like your father?"
"Oh yes! Though I do not imagine I shall ever be as good as he is."
"Oh certainly you can! You just have to continue studying like you have been doing." She leaned forward with a big smile. "I am sure you can be whatever you put your mind to Estel."
The young man grinned from ear to ear. She thought he was something! She was not treating him like he was too young or foolish. "I also want to be a great warrior too. Like my brothers AND father. They are all excellent with their swords. Ada sometimes lets me not only watch his practice, but will even cross steel with me. It is exciting because I never know exactly what move he'll make. Why a week ago, he tried this lunge that---" Suddenly he saw that Fanuiriel was looking around the room and he went quiet. Perhaps talking swords was not very interesting to her. What would a maid like to talk about?
"Your-your dress is very pretty."
Fanuiriel turned back, her smile sparkling, "Why thank you Estel! What a nice thing to say! You certainly have a lovely way with words."
Estel blushed and looked down. He did not know what else to say.
Fanuiriel looked at his bowed head. This one was so easy! Much easier than his elvish brothers. Only a little effort would be needed to lead him along like a starveling to a feast.
But he could not eat too much too quickly, as he might get sick!
She rose gracefully from the bed and put a hand on his shoulder. "I must go Estel. But I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed talking to you. May I come again?"
"Oh yes," He looked up at her with shining eyes. "I would like that very much!"
Fanuiriel smiled sweetly and then bent and kissed him softly on the cheek. "Well then I shall see you.soon."
With a small wave, Fanuiriel left.
Estel, stunned by the unexpected kiss, just lay there unmoving.
He said nothing when an hour later his father came in to inspect his knee and leave him a goblet of medicine to ease his pain.
"Estel? Are you all right?" His father asked as he finished up. "Is the knee giving you much pain?"
"No, no, Ada. I am fine. Just fine. Thank you!" Estel grinned at his father, brushing his hair back with both hands. "I could use another book on herbs, or perhaps...field dressings!"
"Certainly. I shall go to the library and see what I can find."
"Thank you Ada."
Shaking his head at his son's whimsical nature, the elf lord took his bandages and left.
It amazed the elf lord how his edain son could go from the depths of misery to the heights of happiness in such a short time. But perhaps he was healing more rapidly because of his age. He had not touched the goblet of pain reliever he had left in the morning with breakfast.
