As he walked out of the room carrying his supplies. Celebrian stopped him, each twin hanging off a hand. "The boys reminded me my love, that you promised them a day fishing down at the pool."
The elf lord stopped a moment and looked into each eager face, both of them biting their lips, looking anxious and clinging to their mother. Were they so sure he was going to say no?
"Ah, I did indeed."
"Ada! I am going to catch polliwogs." Elladan said holding up a small bucket he had been hiding behind himself.
"Ada! I want polliwogs too. And pretty rocks!" said Elrohir holding up his hidden bucket too.
"Of course. Just let me put my supplies away and change and I shall join you shortly."
"Yay!" Elladan jumped up and down still holding his mother's hand and Elrohir dove into the soft folds of Elrond's robe hugging his legs fiercely, banging his bucket against the back of his knee. "Thank you Ada!"
He peeled Elrohir off and kissed him quickly and then quickly went back to his study. Had he been so busy lately that he had spent so little time with his young ones?
And now he had these edain children to occupy yet another corner of his attention. Slowly closing his medical cabinet he stared a moment at the beautifully carved wood. He needed to schedule his time better.
Returning to his suite, he quickly got out of his morning robes and got into a tunic and trews. Tying his hair back as he left, he rejoined his family in the twin's room. Celebrian had just finished dressing them in serviceable trews and tunics
Kneeling on the floor, the she-elf looked up at her husband as their sons ran around them excitedly playing tag.
"Have fun beloved." Celebrian said quietly with a smile.
"I will Cel. The boys will keep me quite entertained."
Celebrian rose gracefully from the floor. Taking Elrohir by the hand, she went out of the room, Elladan and Elrond following.
In a short time, the Lord of Imladris and his two sons were on their way to the pool for the afternoon, fishing poles at the ready.
Celebrian went out to the herb garden and helped Alathariel pot some herbs to bring into the House. Both she-elves wanted a few for indoors.
As Celebrian patted the soil around some rosemary Alathariel asked quietly. " I heard Lord Elrond brought in some injured edain girls. How are they?"
Celebrian smiled down at the porcelain pot and adjusted the small plant carefully. "My, word gets around quickly Alathariel. Yes, he was down by the Ford and found these two poor lambs. One was injured by a-a...yrch."
Alathariel winced. "We haven't had a sighting of yrch in quite some time. Poor girls indeed. And what of the yrch?"
Celebrian sighed. "We have sent archers to take on what they find beyond the Ford."
"I hope they kill them all."
"So do I." Celebrian shivered suddenly and rubbed her arms.
Alathariel looked at her in concern. "Are you all right my lady?"
"Yes, yes," Celebrian smiled and looked quickly at her friend. "I am
fine."
Alathariel nodded slowly and went back to work.
Celebrian sighed and finished her potting. Just the thought of those creatures...
Elrond watched his sons and only secondarily his fishing pole.
Elladan had his head half way in his bucket and Elrohir was intently watching mayflies at the edge of the pool.
Suddenly, Elrond's fishing pole dipped and the elf lord scrambled up from his relaxed position and pulled the pole towards him.
Both boys ran to him, both wanting to get the trout to shore. Letting both boys grasp the pole, he let them bring the struggling fish up on the rocks where the elf lord very quickly dropped the trout into a straw basket lined with damp grass.
Once the fish had been put away, both boys forgot their pails of polliwogs and grabbed their poles, hoping for a fish like their father.
The dancing of insects above the pool were mighty attractive to the fish therein and soon, Elrohir's pole bent.
"Ada!" he screamed, "I got one, I got one!"
Elladan frowned as his father helped his brother bring the trout to bay.
About to fling his pole in disgust, it suddenly bent and Elladan felt the pull of the trout.
About to yell for his father, he decided that he would take care of this on his own.
So while the elf lord and Elrohir chased the trout as it flopped about, having slipped out of the elf lord's hands, Elladan yanked his pole up and the trout went sailing into the larch tree behind him.
Swinging the pole down again, the fish whizzed back over him headed back for the pool.
Elladan was not going to settle for that and before the fish could get away, the young elf flung the pole aside and dove out into the pool chasing the dazed fish still attached to the hook.
Just as Elrond dropped Elrohir's trout into the basket, he saw his other son out of the corner of his eye leap into the water.
Elrond followed immediately after, Elrohir watching, mouth open, holding the basket with the fish in it.
Snatching his son from the water, who didn't even realize he had been taken out and brought back to the pool's edge, so intent he was on holding on to his fish.
Chuckling, Elrond set his fisher-elfling down and gently pried the fish from Elladan's clutching fingers.
Soon the fish joined the other two.
Elladan dripping wet grinned at his father, who was also wet.
"I caught one Ada, I did it all by myself!"
Elrohir said, "No you did not, Ada helped."
"Well Ada helped you."
"I caught the first fish."
"No Ada did! I caught the biggest one!"
"No I did."
"Boys, that is enough. Now one of you needs to catch a fish for your mother and one for Glorfindel. And I shall try for Erestor, all right?"
"'kay." both elves replied and then quickly got their poles and re-baiting their hooks, threw them back into the pool, making sure to keep well away from the other and watching their lines like hawks.
Celebrian arranged pots along a shelf under her large southern window delighting in the smell of the fresh herbs.
As she was moving them around to make sure they got enough light she heard a thump out in the hall through the open doors of the suite.
Frowning slightly, she went out slowly, listening for a repeat of the noise. There it was again, and now, she heard soft crying.
Moving swiftly to the doors that led into the corridor, Celebrian stepped out.
With a gasp, she rushed to the small form curled up on the floor.
It was Dinna, thumb in her mouth.
"Sweetheart, whatever is the matter?"
The little one looked up and Celebrian saw the fever raging in her.
"Mommy?" She tried to stand up and almost fell, but Celebrian caught her. "Where's my mommy?"
"Hush little lamb." Celebrian held the little one close and went back to their room.
Racell she saw was still asleep thankfully. Laying Dinna down, she went into the bathing room to dampen a cloth.
Dinna promptly got up and followed her in. "Mommy! Mommy, my head hurts." She quickly stuck her thumb in her mouth, tears coursing down her face as she leaned against the she-elf.
Celebrian picked her up and went to the window seat of the room and held the child, singing to her softly as she rocked her.
Once Dinna fell asleep again, Celebrian put her back in bed and then got the damp cloth and gently wiped her face. The Lady of Imladris sat with the girls for awhile to make sure Dinna did not get up and wander any more.
Checking Racell's fever, Celebrian was relieved to find hers was lower than her sisters. And though Dinna slept, she tossed and whimpered under the coverlet.
The she-elf left and went to her husband's still room and pulled down the herbs used to reduce fever. She ground them in a mortar and then dividing them into two mugs, she poured hot water over them, from a carafe that was always kept on a low heat on a brazier for just such use. Adding honey, she took the mugs back to the girls.
Putting one down at Racell's side of the bed, she went around to Dinna adjusting her so she was sitting up. Shaking her slightly she called softly, "Wake up Dinna."
"Momma, I am so hot. Can I go play in the snow?"
"Drink this tea Dinna and I will give you a cooling bath."
"'kay." Dinna drank the tea steadily, too sick to make a face.
Worried at her lethargy, Celebrian went back into the bathing room and soaked a towel. Carefully uncovering Dinna, she lay the towel over her, patting her to soak the chemise underneath.
Dinna moaned, but stilled as Celebrian rubbed her softly around her neck and face, cooling her off.
Making sure she was not getting chilled, the she-elf went back into the bathing room.
As she came back out with a carafe of water, Elrond, washed and in a fresh change of clothing, came in quietly.
"How are things here Cel?" he asked in a low voice.
"Dinna's fever has risen quite a bit. I have given her a glass of your fever reducer and I have been cooling her off."
"Excellent." Elrond went to the five-year-old and taking a deep breath, lay both his hands on her, sending healing energy deep into his patient.
He then went to Racell and did the same.
Celebrian, put her arms around her exhausted husband and sent her love to bolster his spirit.
He closed his eyes tiredly and leaned into his wife, grateful for her strength.
The two elves soon left the girl's room and went to their suite. Taking a long relaxing soak in their naturally heated bathing pool, they indulged in some slow lovemaking as well.
Once out of the pool, The Lord and Lady of Imladris dressed and had a late meal on the terrace outside their room.
"Elrond, what will we do with Racell and Dinna? Do they have relatives among the Dunedain?"
Elrond put down his wine, his face serious. "Racell is Isildur's Heir, my love. Her uncle gave her the Ring of Barahir."
Celebrian sat back in her chair, eyebrows raised. "The Heir of Isildur? A woman, I mean a girl. Is that not unusual?"
"Indeed, it is very rare. But not completely unusual. I fostered another woman before I married you."
"What happened to her?"
"Halanna met a Ranger and married him. The world was quiet then and they raised four children. I delivered her eldest and while Bardalin, her husband went on lengthy trips, she frequently brought her children here."
"And her eldest?"
"He never felt the need to stay here, though he came on occasional visits with other Rangers."
Celebrian, looking thoughtful sipped at her wine. Smiling, she set the glass down, idly twirling a strawberry by the stem. "Well, it will be nice to have two young girls here, Heir of Isildur or not. Dolls and gowns and hair ribbons."
Elrond rose and came around the table to kiss her. Pulling slowly away, she whispered, "It would be nice to have a daughter of our own."
"Well perhaps we will." He kissed her again slowly. "For now we have these little edain children. I best go see how they are faring."
"All right, I will pick out some ribbons out for their hair and work on making a dolly for each."
"Thank you love, for taking on these little lost lambs."
"I think they will prove very entertaining, and I am sure the boys will think so too."
Elrond strode out of his suite of rooms and went the short distance to the girl's room.
Opening the door, he saw Racell lay asleep still but was twins in her blankets. Dinna, he noted with alarm, was not in the bed. Swiftly moving to her side of the bed, he saw her on the floor.
Picking her up the healer was relieved to see that Dinna's fever had lowered. But as he held her, she stirred in her sleep and moaned.
Elrond sat in the window seat with her as Celebrian had done earlier. Holding her close to keep her warm her rocked her gently.
In a few minutes, Dinna settled and popped a thumb in her mouth. Brushing her hair off her forehead, he bent and kissed her. She was a pretty girl, her brownish red curls framing her face. She had a few freckles across her nose and cheeks.
He could tell she had settled into deep sleep and so he put her back into bed next to her sister.
As he pulled the blanket up, Racell stirred and opened her eyes.
Elrond smiled down at her. "How are you feeling?"
Yawning she said tiredly, "Better sir Elrond. My leg still hurts a little And my tummy and my arms."
It is the orc poison Racell. It will go away soon." He pulled the quilt off the girl and once again lay his hands on her bandaged leg sending healing energy into the wound.
Racell watched the elf lord and then smiled up at him. "Thank you sir. That feels much better." She looked over at her sister. "And Dinna?"
"She is coming along Racell. He fever has gone down some."
"She will want to play soon then."
"You both need rest for a few days more Racell."
"More sleeping then I guess." She looked up a moment anxiously. "Is Whin okay?"
"He is fine Racell."
Racell ducked down into the quilt and pleated the cloth between her fingers. Elrond waited as he watched her think.
"Did, did anyone find my uncle?"
"I am sorry, the archers have not returned yet."
She nodded and the suddenly burst out with the question that had been filling her mind. "What will happen to us sir Elrond? Where will Dinna and I go? Can we go back to our home? If we can't, can we stay here and help on your farm? I can work and when Dinna is better she is very good at watching the chicks and ducks."
Elrond sat on the edge of the bed. "You cannot go home little one. It is too dangerous." He gently brushed her hair off her face.
"Imladris has farms that you may visit. But yours is a different fate my child. You are welcome to stay here. Unless you have other family?"
Her eyes wide, she shook her head slowly. "No, we have no one else sir Elrond."
She swallowed dryly. Shivering, she realized she was right. There was
no one else. She and Dinna were all alone, unless by some miracle, Uncle Nagron had survived. Tears flooded her eyes suddenly and embarrassed, she pulled the quilt over her face. Now what would they do?
The quilt was pulled down and the elf lord gathered Racell against his chest and held her. "You will stay here then Racell," answering her thought. "And you and Dinna will grow up here in Imladris all right? My wife and sons and I will be your family."
But, but we are not elves. We do not have pointed ears." She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands.
"No, you are not elves, but you are human and just as delightful."
Elrond bent and kissed her on the top of her head and then got her
more comfortable under her blanket. With a smile he lay a hand across her eyes sending her to sleep.
He left and went to the kitchens to order them some easy food to digest, requesting a fruit pudding for dessert.