Ice

Chapter Ten

Fin's fever continued to burn throughout the night. Legolas and Tan stayed by her side the entire time, taking turns pacing the room in worry. Fin moaned and thrashed in her sleep, and once, Legolas had to actually hold her down to keep her wound from ripping open. Elrond came several times during the night to change the bandage. The poison in her system was slowly flowing out through her shoulder wound, and as it did, her fever began to lessen.

Just before daybreak, as Legolas sat by her side, his head in his hands, Fin awoke. Confused blue eyes met Legolas' gray eyes, and he gripped her hand once more.

"All is well, mellon nin, your fever is down, and your wound is healing. We were all very worried for you. It is good to see you awake."

Doubt was in her eyes as she regarded his words. Then she remembered.

"Estel?!"

"He is well, too. He might have a bit of a headache, and he will need to stay in bed for the day, but he has mostly recovered. He is truly lucky that you were there for him."

Fin tried to rise, but pain and the realization that she was half undressed stopped her. She knew it was not entirely proper to appear this way.

"You should not try and get up just yet. It is barely daybreak and only hours since you arrived. Wait a few more hours, and I will help you."

Fin watched him as he rose, stoked the fire, and then called into the hall for someone to fetch Lord Elrond. In a few short minutes, Elrond arrived and was relieved to see Fin awake and alert, for the most part. His skilled eyes could still see a fever glaze in her eyes and face, and she was still very pale. He approached the bed and laid a hand on the skin of her back, noting that it was still hot. He quickly mixed a tea using herbs that he had brought and hot water from the kettle on the fire, and he helped Fin drink some of it. It would help with the pain and fever, and it would make her more comfortable.

As Fin began to drift away into a more natural sleep, she sighed and managed a "Thank You" before allowing herself to fall into darkness.

"She had a close call."

"As did Estel. I would like to know what orcs are doing so close to the borders of my home. Estel said that they did not encounter a large group, so I am inclined to believe that it was a group of scouts."

"I would like to know why Estel was out there, alone and at night. I know that he knows better than that."

"You have been here all night, so you missed what was said. He was on his way here, he had actually stopped for the night, but before he could set up camp, he discovered the orcs heading this way. He had actually tracked them for several hours when they turned off to skirt around the border of Rivendell. He realized he was close to home, but then he came across Fin, the orcs discovered Estel and Fin, and then they were attacked."

"Why was he alone? Did he not go out with other rangers? Why were they not with him?"

"Estel said something about investigating a rumor, regarding an object that is much desired and being sought by many. He was not entirely clear, but he said the rangers had split up to find out as much as they could. They were concerned because orc activity had seemed to increase over the area they had been traveling, and they heard from many along the way that the orcs were attacking villages. He was coming here to seek my advice."

"I think it would be wise to take a war party out and make sure the northern border is safe. It is a favorite hunting spot for many. I do not wish to see others hurt. We should probably warn your people to stay close."

"Aye, that is a wise course, Legolas. We should see Elladan and Elrohir, for they were out by the lake just yesterday. I imagine Estel would also like to be involved, but he will need another day to recover before he can be of much help."

"I will go to your sons and we will prepare to leave tomorrow at first light."

Tan, who had been listening, also decided to go along.

Elrond watched him depart. He then turned his attention back to the she- elf that lay sleeping. He would need to speak to her when she awoke and was stronger. He had to make her understand that she was welcome in Rivendell. She had much to offer, and it already felt as if she were a part of the household. He as well as his sons had benefited from having her in the house. She had so much she could teach them, and it had been a joy to teach her. Without his daughter around, Fin brought a certain grace back into the house. It made him miss his daughter just a bit less.

He needed to write to Thranduil and make sure that he understood that Fin was not going to be turned out of Rivendell. Relations between the two elven realms had not always been on the best of terms, and he felt that if he were honest with Thranduil, at least it would not get any worse. At least that was his hope.