Well, from that came this. ::Mother Nature cackles:: oh wait, that's me.
The Kava kava plant, also known as Piper methysticum, is used in a tea as a sedative. Ah, knowledge.
The healer Meneréiel was created using the name generator at The Borrow-Downs website. It's really my friend Susie, or rather Susanna. Go find out what your name means at {www.borrowdown.com} Drunken Spirit indeed.
I'm been asked about the location of Arwen. I dislike her, a lot. Technically, Arwen fled to Lothlórien after her mother crossed the sea to Valinor. In my world, she does not exist.
Rated P.G.
Enjoy
Reona
A Cry in the Valley
Dark clouds gathered around the peaks of the Hithaeglir, known as the Misty Mountains in the Common Tongue. Lightening flashed around the snow capped tips and thunder rolled across the sky. The house of Rivendell sat peacefully in the valley below, barely disturbed by the faint rumbling from so far away. A fierce wind swept down from the cold slops and rushed into the narrow gap of the valley, murmuring agitatedly through the trees. The wind raced along the gardens and down the open corridors of the Elven house. It swept up the side of the house and through an open balcony, banging the doors lightly. In a final burst of energy, the wind brushed over the sleeping figure on the bed of the chamber and then died.
Elrond Peredhil, clad in sleeping gown and hair mussed, stirred slightly as the wind blew into his room. At the edge of his sluggish perception he could hear a mild rain starting to hit the stone of his balcony outside. Blinking open silver grey eyes and pushing himself up on one elbow, the Elf lord turned his blurry gaze to the night. Lightening flared far off in the distance, some time passing before soft thunder followed. Elrond yawned and stood from the bed, walking over to the balcony. He closed one side of the double doors and then moved to close the other when another cold mountain wind blew into the valley.
Elrond shivered and frowned, looking off into the direction of the Hithaeglir. Lightening flashed around the peaks as the clouds swirled toward the valley. The dark haired half-Elf looked on for a moment more and then closed the doors completely. Rubbing at his eyes, Elrond walked back to his bed and climbed in. The Elf lord was shortly asleep once again.
The clouds blocked out all the light from the moon and stars as they covered the Elven valley. The rain began to beat harder against the stone, soaking everything. The river Bruinen swelled with the downpour, becoming dangerously swift with the extra water filling its banks. The trees bent under the force of the winds that wildly blew through the valley. Lightening cut the sky again and a long ominous rumble shook the Last Homely House.
The wind jumped the railing of the balcony and banged against the closed doors, rattling the glass loudly. Elrond stirred anew and turned his face toward the windows in confusion. As a great shock to his eyes, lightening flashed near by. The dark haired half-Elf threw his hands up to cover his eyes in pain while thunder crashed, braking the relative peace of the night. "Ai Elbereth!" exclaimed Elrond, rubbing at his sensitive eyes and hoping the whiteness would quickly be gone.
Thunder crashed again, shaking the house fiercely and making Elrond's ears ache. A cry of fear followed the roar, pitiful next to the mighty sound. The half-Elf gasped and quickly stood from the bad. Elrond opened his doors and exited out into the hallway. The door across from his opened and one of his sons, Elrohir, came out. "Ada?" asked the younger Elf.
Another flash of lightening cut off any answer Elrond might have made and the following thunder made both Elves cringe. The cry came again and Elrond set off down the hallway, moving quickly. Lightening blinding Elrond for a moment and he had to put one hand on the wall to guide himself. Thunder crashed just as the door closest to him opened and the small flame of a candle appeared in the opening. "By the Valar!" exclaimed Erestor. "What a storm!"
Elrond smiled at his adviser's excitement. "Erestor, please make sure that everything is alright." Erestor nodded and hurried off, moving among the several other people now awake and in the halls. Elrond gained the door he wanted just as another cry sounded and he opened the portal quickly. Aragorn sat huddled on his bed, sobbing into the tops of his knees. "Aragorn." called the Elf lord softly. The child snapped his head up and his tear stained face almost broke Elrond's heart. He crossed to the bed and sat down on the edge, gathering the scared human child close.
Lightening flashed and thunder crashed, making even Elrond wince at the sound. "It is just a storm, Aragorn. It will pass and we are safe in here." soothed the Elf.
"I don't like thunder storms!" exclaimed Aragorn. "Make it stop!" He fisted Elrond's nightshirt and buried his face into the fabric.
Elrond shook his head as he started to stroke the child's hair. "Nay, child. I would let the world have its way and let the natural course stay." Thunder boomed and Elrond flinched again. "Although I wouldn't mind the storm being a bit quieter about it." Aragorn gave a nervous high pitched giggle as the Elf lord held him and Elrond wiped the wetness from the child's face. "The storm will pass, Aragorn." he reassured the boy once more as the house shook again. Elrond ran two fingers down the child's cheek, trying to soothe him and pulled his legs up onto the bed, seeing a long night before him at this rate.
Two quick flashes of lightening were then followed by a loud crack that was not thunder. Elrond frowned for a moment and then both on the bed screamed as the balcony and roof behind them exploded. The half-Elf curled himself over the child as glass and wood sprayed into the room. Cold wet rain began to hit the pair on the bed and they smelled smoke in the dusty air. Elrond peeked over his shoulder to see that lightening had hit a near by tree and it had fallen on the house, braking into Aragorn's room. The floor was covered in glass and some of the tree was on fire, trying to catch parts of the rug aflame as well. The canopy and curtains of the bed had saved both from most of the flying debris, although Elrond could feel pain in his right arm and something warm had begun to slide down his skin. Aragorn screamed again as some more of the roof collapsed.
"Elrond!" cried a voice outside in the hall. Someone banged on the door and Elrond turned his head to see that a small desk and chair had fallen in front of it, barring the rescuers from the room.
"Glorfindel!" Elrond called back, recognizing the voice. "A tree has fallen into the room, Glorfindel!" Aragorn's cries were wild now and Elrond held him close, trying to comfort him.
"Are you alright?" demanded the blond Elf's voice. There was a loud thump but the door didn't move. Elrond really hoped that Glorfindel wasn't hitting the door with his body.
The dark haired half-Elf could feel his whole arm burning now and red blood had started to create a small pool next to him. "We are well." Elrond answered. "There is furniture in front of the door, Glorfindel."
"Can you move it?" asked Erestor from the hall.
Elrond looked down at the glass strewn floor with trepidation. "There's stuff all on the floor and he's not wearing any shoes!" cried Aragorn. Elrond winced as the child pulled at his wounded arm in fright.
"Don't you dare move!" cried both Glorfindel and Erestor. Elrond rolled his eyes and then started as he saw that some fire had jumped onto a tapestry across the room. Aragorn's cries grew in volume at the sight. "Elrond?" called Erestor, his voice stressed.
"The tree is on fire, Erestor, and it's spreading around the room." called Elrond. There was another bang and the dark haired half-Elf was now sure that Glorfindel was using his weight to move the door.
"I don't want to die!" Aragorn said around his cries.
Elrond lowered his face to the child. "We're not going to die, Aragorn. Glorfindel has never failed me and he will not fail now." he muttered to the child, something very steady in his heart. He smiled as Aragorn looked up at him.
A louder bang sounded from the door and Elrond knew that his sons were now part of the weight beating on the door. The desk scrapped on the floor and the door opened a little. "Elrond?" called Glorfindel's voice clearly.
"We're on the bed." answered Elrond. He coughed a little as the room was filling with smoke. A hand grasped the doorjamb and Elrond saw the person throw his weight back again. Glorfindel squeezed through opening followed by the twins and Erestor. Glorfindel's pinched look eased as he laid eyes on the pair on the bed and he walked across to them, his boots crunching on the floor.
"Move the desk, boys." ordered Erestor. The twins tugged the furniture away from the door, allowing it to open all the way. Other Elves rushed in to put out the fire and remove what wasn't damaged, the storm still raging outside.
Glorfindel's blue eyes narrowed on Elrond's bleeding arm. "You told me you were well." he accused the other with worry.
Elrond looked down at his arm and saw that the cut had turned the sleeve of his gown red, making it look worse than it was. "It's only a scratch, Glorfindel." he muttered. Aragorn was trembling in his arms, quiet but with wide eyes. "Bring me my shoes." Elrond ordered. He gave a small squeak as Glorfindel slid his arms under the half-Elf and lifted him from the bed. "Glorfindel!" hissed the Elf lord as he was carried out of the room. Aragorn still sat in his lap and Elrond exchanged worried glances for the child with heated glares for Glorfindel.
Glorfindel didn't answer as he walked through the corridors toward the Hall of Healing. Elrond saw that Elladan and Elrohir had begun to follow them and smiled over the blond Elf's shoulder. "I am well, my sons."
Elrohir hurried forward to walk next to Glorfindel and looked into Elrond's lap at Aragorn. "How is Aragorn?" he asked.
Elrond smoothed one hand through the calming child's hair. "He will be well after some rest." he answered. He started to send some of his healing energy to soothe the child but received a small shake from Glorfindel as the blond Elf felt the exchange.
"You need rest and tending as well. No healing duties for you." said Glorfindel. Elrond glared at the Elf carrying him, opening his mouth to protest. "Not a word."
The twins stopped and let Glorfindel continue on with Elrond and Aragorn. Elladan cocked one eyebrow at his brother. "Well, isn't that interesting." he said.
Elrohir smiled. "I've been wondering what had taken them so long." he chuckled. The twins smiled at each other and then raced away, eager to run off the tension of the night.
"Glorfindel! Put me down now!" ordered Elrond. The blond Elf ignored the other and turned around to push open a door with his back. A few Elves were inside the Hall of Healing being treated for minor injuries caused by the storm. A young Elfling rushed around the room lighting candles so the other healers could see. The lesser healers, all trained by Elrond himself, hurried around the room and in-between bed. Lightening flashed outside of the high arched windows and some of the metal objects around the room rattled as thunder followed. A gust of wind broke open a doorway to the outside and some Elves in the room rushed to close it before the night's chill could do any harm to the patients.
Glorfindel walked over to a chair by the large fireplace and sat Elrond carefully down in it. The Elf lord scowled and wrapped his arms around Aragorn, both shivering from the rain that had dampened them when the tree fell. "Meneréiel!" called Glorfindel as he stood.
A Noldor she-Elf with dark hair hurried over at being called and gasped as she saw Elrond with blood on his right arm. "My lord!" she exclaimed.
Glorfindel grabbed Meneréiel around the arm before she could rush to treat the Elf lord. "Meneréiel, I need for you to see to Aragorn. He's had a bit of a fright and is in shock. I will see to Lord Elrond."
Meneréiel nodded and Glorfindel released her. The she-Elf walked over to the chair and reached for the child in Elrond's arms. "I'll get him into some dry clothes, my Lord, and feed him some kava kava tea. Put him right to sleep." Meneréiel said. Elrond nodded his head in approval and let the she-Elf take Aragorn from his lap. The human child wrapped his arms around Meneréiel's neck as she carried him over to a bed and snatched up some towels to bundle him in. "Poor thing." she muttered.
Elrond stared at Glorfindel coolly as the other Elf gathered bandages and ointment to treat the gash on his arm. The blond Elf eyed the blood soaked sleeve. "I may have to cut it off." he muttered to himself. Glorfindel looked around for a clean towel to press to the cut. Elrond sighed softly and reached up to undo the lacing on his nightshirt. Loosened, he slid the right side off of his shoulder. Glorfindel cocked his eyebrow when he saw what the Elf lord had done and wetted the towel he now held. Pressing the wet cloth to Elrond's arm, he carefully pulled the sleeve away from the gash where it had stuck to some dried blood. Elrond closed his eyes and allowed Glorfindel to do his work, showing no signs of pain.
When the sleeve was low enough for the cut to be seen, Glorfindel carefully checked it to make sure that no glass was under the skin. Then the blond Elf applied a soothing ointment and wrapped the gash in white bandages. Elrond had begun to tremble ever so lightly, feeling the cold seep under his skin and settle in his veins as the other Elf worked. Glorfindel grabbed another towel and began to ring out the half-Elf's long hair. "We need to get you out of those wet clothes." he muttered.
Elrond opened his eyes and looked sideways at Glorfindel, annoyance still in his gaze. "There are extra tunics in the chest over there and blankets in the cabinet next to it."
Glorfindel gave another firm rub to Elrond's hair and then walked over to retrieve the things. He pulled a suitable tunic from the chest and grabbed a blanket. Returning, the blond Elf hesitated. It was one thing to change the lord of the house's clothes in the privacy of his rooms, it was quite another to do it in front of several others. Elrond chuckled and took pity on the poor Elf. "Give me the blanket, Glorfindel." Glorfindel started and did as told. Elrond wrapped the blanket around himself and then asked for the tunic. Pulling it under the blanket, he then started to wiggle about for a moment. Finally, Elrond tossed the ruined nightgown onto the floor. Glorfindel blinked and Elrond chuckled again. "How do you think we change the patient's clothes, Glorfindel?" The blond Elf turned a little red at that. Elrond laughed and let the blanket fall a little, revealing that he was now wearing the tunic Glorfindel had brought.
Glorfindel chuckled as well. "I suppose I never thought about it." he admitted.
Elrond smiled and his gaze strayed to a near by bed where Meneréiel was carefully spooning some tea into Aragorn's mouth. The child was wrapped in a blanket as well and the she-Elf was apparently telling a story of some kind, Aragorn listening intently. A cup appeared in Elrond's line of sight and he looked up to find Glorfindel holding a steaming mug out to him. Elrond wrapped chilled fingers around the warmth gratefully and took a sip. After a moment, he frowned. "Glorfindel…"
"Drink it." ordered the blond Elf, no argument in his voice.
Elrond sighed and took another sip of the hot drew, tasting the herbs that would insure he would fall to sleep. A few minutes later saw Elrond dozing in his chair. Glorfindel took the empty cup from his limp grasp and then slid his arms under the Elf lord. Elrond felt himself being picked up and gratefully lay his head down on Glorfindel's shoulder. "This happens way too often…" he muttered.
"What does?" asked Glorfindel softly.
"You putting me to bed." slurred Elrond in response.
Glorfindel chuckled as he made his way through Rivendell, the storm outside finally dying down. He lay his cheek on top of Elrond's head for a moment. "Go to sleep, Elrond." he said. Elrond sighed and did as he was told.
