Disclaimer & other standard ramblings: see some previous chapter
A/N: I have no medical knowledge at all; everything in the domain of medicine is most likely plain rubbish, but please bear with me…
R2R's:
Note: FF.net is being incredibly irritating and not showing me all my reviews, of some of them I did receive an review alert, however. But if I did not respond to your review, it's because FF.net didn't let me read it :-(
Cathy – You'll find out about his injuries this chapter. Thank you for your kind words and I hope won't be disappointed with it.
Lorwen – Nederlandse LotR fanfics zijn pas vreemd om te lezen, reviews ben ik wel aan gewend, maar een heel verhaal, moet je anders eens Belothien's verhaal bekijken (De Weddenschap, dacht ik); heel vreemd (maar wel positief! *g*).
Alexa – Here you are!
SperryDee – Thank you for always leaving a review, I really appreciate it; once again I thank you!
Faila Gamgee of Sandy Downs – erm, well, maybe I should add a warning at the beginning of the story, but when I started writing I certainly did not have this much torture scenes in mind; and rest assured, chapter seven was the worst, chapters 8,9 and 10 will have no more torture. I hope you will enjoy reading chapter nine.
Belothien – *g*opbouwende kritiek kan inderdaad ook positief zijn! 'Best wel Tolkien-stijl'? *blushes* wow, dat is één van de aardigste dingen die iemand ooit heeft gezegd... *hides her head in shame* well, yeah, het was echt heel lang... maar nu was het veel korter; maar geen beloftes over ch10 (ik moet er nog steeds aan beginnen en volgende week heb ik de EL-CID, introductieweek Universiteit Leiden). Ik ben blij dat je het een leuk hoofdstuk vond, en wat betreft chapters 9 en 10: wait and you shall see *g*
leggylover03 – well, here's your Estel and Elrond angst! Enjoy!
Silverfox – Hope you haven't forgotten what has been going on this time *g*! Read, relax and enjoy!
Elladan – Thank you for the praise; I'm sorry to hear about the computer problems... though in itself the computer is a wonderful invention, sometimes it's a pain in the ass... Hope you'll like chapter nine!
Anita – Wat betreft die 'zij'... hmmm, het is een beetje een spoiler voor deel drie van de film als ik je dat vertel... dus stuur me nog maar even een mailtje of je het ècht wil weten. En yep, ik ben geslaagd!!! Geen vakantie, though :( Ik ging namelijk direct na m'n examens werken (zelfs voordat ik wist dat ik daadwerkelijk geslaagd was...)! En hier is chapter nine, enjoy!
Without further ado, I giveth thee:
Chapter nineThough the sun had risen hours ago, the room was quiet and peaceful. It was a room just like any other room in Rivendell: richly decorated with beautifully carved art-like furniture; touches of nature and space could be found everywhere, calming and soothing for both body and mind. This room in particular, was painted in a cream-coloured theme, feather light curtains rustling in the gentle breeze, the spacious bed filled with heavy blankets and matching fluffy pillows; the whole room simply breathed with healing and light.
The person lying in the bed, however, was in great contrast to the room; being all flushed and sweaty, his abused body tossing and turning in his bed every now and then and his face red from a fever that though not being life threatening, still was a reason for some concern.
Yet the one in the bed was not the only occupant of the room; two identical Elves were sprawled on a settee, snoring softly; their clothes dirty and their faces still slightly fatigued. The settee was tinted in a soft salmon-pink and slightly out of place in the cream-coloured furnishing, its curves and bends not in the exact same style of the other pieces of furniture in the room.
Another Elf was seated in a comfortable arm chair, his long hair partially covering his face, partially falling over the back of the chair, a chair that was clearly indeed part of the original furnishing of the room. Though the Elf appeared to be just as deep asleep as the other occupants, in reality he was wide awake.
Lord Elrond sat staring at his human son and though he was exhausted, sleep did not seem to come to him. Not that it mattered, even if the dream world had tried to allure him, he would not have accepted its gentle offer of much needed rest. Though the influenza was not life threatening and Estel was in no way in mortal danger, his fever had not broken yet and Elrond was concerned the boy would start to wander in his mind, because of the fever that continued to make him warmer.
As Elrond sat watching his human son many questions ran through his head, the most prominent being why the orcs had not killed Estel; not that he was not glad of that fact, but it remained strange. 'it is known from experience they usually kill their victims and though they toyed with him, they made sure he was not injured beyond repair. And Mithrandir had mentioned that when the orcs were searching for him they called him the 'Dark Lord's Gift'. They must have wanted to take him to Mordor, but I still cannot see why. It is not possible they have discovered Estel to be the heir to the throne of Gondor, otherwise they would never let him go. Most likely they would have drugged him on the way and had not dared touch Isildur's heir; though orcs are crude they rightly fear their master, who surely would show no mercy in the torture of his servants, once he'd discover they had turned over the Heir touched and violated. So, once again, why did they decide not to kill him?'
Estel shifted in his sleep and Elrond was distracted from his musings as he silently walked to the bed and straightened the boy's blankets which had slipped from the bed a little.
As he returned to the arm chair he thought back to the moment when Estel had almost scared them into an early grave. It had all begun a couple of hours after they had arrived at Rivendell, at the beginning of yesterday's evening. The whole ride home had gone smooth and Estel had been fine, being in an almost unconscious yet safe state. However, moments after they had put him in bed, Estel's temperature that had been high already, had jumped spectacularly, frightening Elladan and Elrohir to the point they actually feared they would lose Estel after all. But their minds had been set at ease after Elrond had examined the boy and told them that Estel's fever was merely the way his body was coping with the illness. His temperature would continue to rise, yet slowly and regularly, as not to overheat his body with a sudden heat wave all at once, but to carefully prepare it until it reached the point the heat would destroy the illness.
Though in itself the rising fever was necessary and inevitable, there were some side effects to it: the hotter Estel got, the more agitated he became, and right now Estel was getting more agitated with every passing minute.
For a moment Elrond's eyes strayed from his youngest and his glance fell on his two Elven sons and he smiled. The twins had stubbornly refused to leave the room, simply dragging a settee from the hall and seating themselves on it firmly and though several Elves had tried, by order of Elrond one might add, there had been no force on Arda which could make them leave to their own room to get some rest. Elrond had not been there to try to persuade them himself, though privately he doubted his words would have had more effect, as after he had made sure Estel would not be in immediate danger, he had been called upon his duties as healer. Though few were wounded in the battle and none seriously, it had taken some time before he could return to his youngest. As he had opened the door, he had found his sons lying on the settee, apparently succumbed to exhaustion. However, as he had seated himself in the arm chair, Elladan had opened one eye and murmured softly that neither he nor Elrohir would move even one inch.
Moments after he had sat down, Glorfindel had appeared in the doorway, partly to check on Estel and partly to update the Elven Lord what had occurred during their absence. For Glorfindel had taken care of running Rivendell as they had come home; Elrond having no time, busy treating the wounded and his son. The golden-haired Elf had gladly taken some weight out of Elrond's hands, but at that moment he had been near exhaustion and after updating Elrond he had excused himself and retired for the night.
Time passed by as Elrond kept watch at Estel's bedside and at a certain moment he found himself looking in Gandalf's slightly worried face. The wizard had entered the room without Elrond's notice and now he moved over to Estel's bed and examined the Human carefully, his hooked nose a mere inch from the Estel's face, searching for signs Elrond did not know of. After an inestimable length of time he straightened and looked at Elrond. 'He will be fine, eventually he will be fine.'
Elrond did not bother to ask the wizard how he knew, he simply accepted the statement with much relief and gratitude. 'Thank you.'
Though the lines of worry had lessened, they had not entirely disappeared from the old face of the Istar. 'However, I must leave within an hour. I have already postponed my visit and I can linger no longer,' he said, turning to look out of the window at the west.
'I fear if I stay further many will suffer the consequences,' he continued, a far away look in his eyes, seemingly looking at happenings beyond the borders of Rivendell, muttering something about missing a clue in a crucial turn of the tide. 'What is it that I cannot see and why does my heart keep telling me to search west? I have already talked to Círdan, he could help me no further. What else is there in the west that could ease my worries and it's not yet time to return to whence I came from.'
It was clear that the wizard had forgotten where he was and with whom, and Elrond gently laid a hand on his friend's shoulder. 'Of course, mellonamin, I understand you cannot stay. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the decision to stay and help us find Estel.'
Gandalf turned around to face the Elven Lord. 'One that I absolutely do not regret. I would gladly postpone an even more urgent task, that boy is truly a precious gift. Not only because what he is, but also because of what he has become.'
As Gandalf mentioned Estel, Elrond looked at his youngest for a moment and when he looked up again, the wizard had mysteriously disappeared.
'Iston, mellonamin, and I thank the Valar everyday for all four gifts they have granted me,' he whispered.
As Elrond mused over the recent events, late evening faded into deep night and at a certain moment, he was finally overcome by sleep.
* * * * * * * *
Elrond's eyes shot wide open when he heard a sound. He moved and as he felt some stiffness in his body, he realized he was sitting in a chair, not lying in his comfortable bed. He was still slightly disoriented from being pulled out of his deep sleep so suddenly and his inquisitive gaze graced the room, wondering where exactly in Rivendell he was. However, when he heard another moan and looked into the direction of the soft whimper and saw his son everything came rushing back to him within moments.
Cursing his weakness, Elrond ran to the boy's bedside. 'I had only intended to close my eyes for a second to rest a little but it seems that the stress of the past days has finally caught up with me!'
'No!' Estel whimpered softly. 'Saes, daro!'
'Shush, Estel, you're with your family now,' Elrond soothed, but if the words had any effect at all they only made the situation worse. Estel became more and more distressed, attempting to throw the blankets away from his body, and his pleas were turning into begging sobs.
'Please, don't hurt ada! No, not my family! Please!' He was thrashing wildly and from his closed eyes, tears were running down his cheeks.
By now, the twins had awakened too and together the three Elves tried everything to snap Estel out of this nightmare, their tactics varying from talking to him softly telling he was safe, to shaking him quite roughly, though always mindful of his hurts, to bring him back forcefully.
However, nothing could free the boy and Elrond found himself placed on the thorns of a dilemma: he did not really want to use one of his potions, unsure of any side effects that might occur because of the fever and the fact that Estel was Human. He was used to treating Elves and had very limited experience in healing Human children; and though the two races usually reacted in the same way to medicaments there were some differences that could have disastrous consequences.
'Ada, please save me!'
Elrond made his choice. 'Elrohir, Elladan,' he addressed the twins. 'Keep trying to calm him, while I will prepare a strong sedative.'
Elladan nodded once, while sitting on Estel's left side holding the boy down so that he would not harm himself. Elrohir was seated on the right side, with one hand caressing Estel's cheek and with the other holding down a wet cloth to his brother's forehead to cool the hot fevered boy and ease some of his pain. Both twins used their calmest voice to tell Estel he was safe, though they could barely manage to utter the kind reassurances in a light-hearted voice with the swirling distress they felt inside.
* * * * * * * *
When Elrond hurried back from the healer's wing with the potion, a syrupy liquid, in his hand, a strange sight he beheld. It was the strangest paradox: Estel had finally calmed down and was lying in his bed, covered in blankets, not moving at all. However, his sons did not appear glad or even relieved at Estel's calmness. Elladan stood staring out of the window, his back turned towards the room; though Elrond could not see his face, he could see in the tense stance and the tight shoulders that his eldest was as taut as a bow string in battle. Elrohir was still sitting on Estel's bed, but with his head in his hands and his crouched posture, he was the very personification of sorrow. For a moment the Elven Lord feared Estel had left for the Halls of Mandos, but he still distinguished the, albeit shallow, but steady breathing. No one had noticed his arrival, another sign of the twins' tension. Elrond cleared his throat. 'I have brought the potion, though it seems it is not necessary anymore.'
Elladan did not turn at his words, but Elrohir murmured something, and though it was muffled by his hands, Elrond could hear in the tone that the younger twin was at the verge of tears. He had not the heart to ask his son to repeat what he had said and instead walked over to Estel to see for himself how his youngest was faring, putting the vial with the concentrated medicine on a small table near the door.
As he approached the bed, he could distinguish a slight shivering emanating from the boy and as he sat down on the right side of the bed, the one that had previously been occupied by Elladan, he could see through the thick layer of blankets that Estel had wrapped himself in a tight ball. Though Estel usually appeared healthier, Elrond could see no reason to be so low spirited as Elladan and Elrohir seemed to be.
'Please, my sons, what happened?' he inquired.
Once again Elrohir murmured something undistinguishable, but this time Elrond pursued, 'What did you say, my son? I could not hear you.'
At these words, Elladan turned around, his eyes burning with anger, but underneath Elrond saw a layer of hurt and a feeling of utmost betrayal. 'He did not want us to come for him.'
'No, I heard him before, he was asking us to save him!' contradicted Elrond, his own eyes starting to blaze at Elladan's accusation. 'Did you not hear him?'
'As I said, he did not want us to come,' repeated Elladan, a sarcastic edge to his statement. 'If you don't believe me, ask Elrohir.'
Elrond looked at the younger twin, begging him to contradict his elder brother, but Elrohir nodded and then finally looked up; his shimmering eyes were the exact opposite of Elladan's: on the surface there was hurt and pain, but there was also the slightest flicker of anger.
' 'Please, don't come for me' were his exact words,' Elrohir said mutely.
Elrond sought support in the arm rest of the chair as he gasped in shock. 'This can't be true,' he muttered, a catch in his voice as his throat contracted in fear and disbelief.
'He is delirious, you do not know in what context he speaks or even whom he speaks of,' a calm voice said.
It belonged to Glorfindel who had entered the room not long after Elrond had returned with the potion and had witnessed all that had conspired in the past moments in silence, but now he spoke up, sensing his opinion needed to be heard.
'We know he means us, that much was clear when he added 'Don't go looking for me, my brothers.'' The hurt in Elladan's eyes was evident now and he turned around again to stare out of the window.
'But you still don't know in what situation he was, do not judge him now, Elladan, for he is in no state to be judged,' Glorfindel told him firmly, yet not unpleasantly. 'By anyone of you,' he added, including Elrohir and Elrond in his statement.
'I know,' Elrohir whispered. 'But it's so hard, what if he really does not want us to be with him?'
'Let me answer with a question of my own: If he really did not want you to come, then why was he so relieved when you arrived?'
Having said thus, Glorfindel made his exit, leaving the occupants of the room to ponder his words.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
'Who are you?'
He found himself in a wasteland, a desert like place, with no green and only sand and rocks. One lonely tree stood in the empty land, no leaves ornamenting it, its branches blackened and dried, appearing crisp to the touch. Somehow, he knew what the black tree symbolised: doubt. Again the question that kept swirling around in his mind was posed.
'Who are you?'
Go away! he yelled.
'Who are you?'
I said: go away!
'Who are you?'
I don't want to think about it!
'Who are you?'
Go away! It's no use trying to harass me, I will never give in!
'Who are you?'
He did not respond this time and the voice was quiet… but not for long.
'Who are you?'
He resumed his silence.
'Who are you?'
…
'Who are you?'
…
'Who are you?'
Go away. This time it sounded more like a plea than a demand.
'Who are you?'
Please…
'Who are you?'
I don't know! he finally screamed.
This time no responding voice came.
I don't know who I am, he repeated softer this time.
'That's why you keep running from my question, don't you?'
Yes, he admitted, hating the taunting voice for the fact it was right. Ever since he had learned about his real, Human parents, the question had arose, but he had pushed it aside, not daring to concentrate on it, fearing the outcome.
'I will disappear from existence if you answer me.'
I know. He indeed had known it all along.
'Then answer me: Who are you?'
Im Es--, he broke off. I don't know!
'Who are you?'
Please. He was crying by now.
'Who are you?'
I am Aragorn, son of A--, he stopped again, not being able to finish the sentence.
'Who are you?'
I can't choose! Sweat beaded on his forehead.
'You must! Who are you?'
I can't! he was starting to get nauseous and light-headed. In the distance he could see a rising storm, steadily approaching his position.
'Choose!'
The world began to spin around, like a vortex, threatening to suck him up, frightening him with the prospect of getting lost forever in the dark tunnel of nothing.
'Choose!'
He started to loose his grip on the ground and a tornado lifted him in the air; steadily blowing him into the black void. Out of the corner of his eye he could see that the black tree seemed to be the only thing in the desert that remained unaffected by the storm.
'Choose!'
He could barely hear the voice over the raging winds.
'Choose!'
As the vortex swallowed him, he finally gave in to the demanding voice. Im Estel, Elrondion!
The tree was uprooted and the world went dark.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I don't know!' the shout rang through the whole room and the three Elves jumped at Estel's sudden cry.
'Shush, Estel, you're safe,' Elrond tried to comfort him.
'I don't know who I am.'
'Ada?' asked Elrohir uncertainly. 'What is he talking about?'
Elrond had no answer for the twin and shook his head. 'I do not understand it either.'
'Yes.' It was so soft that the Elves could barely hear it. 'I know.'
'Is he speaking to us?' Elladan asked confused.
'No, I don't think so,' replied his father. 'He seems unaware of our presence, maybe…'
'Im Es--… I don't know!'
'It doesn't sound as if he is suffering from amnesia,' Elrohir remarked.
'No,' agreed Elrond. 'I don't think he has forgotten his name.'
The three Elves in the room were at a loss of what was going on, what did Estel not know? Elrohir bowed his head and Elladan averted his look, closing his eyes, not wanting the others to see the tears that involuntarily escaped his eyes.
'Please.'
At Estel's croaked plea, his whole family turned to him and they saw silver tears running down his cheeks. 'I am Aragorn, son of A--.'
The hearts of the Elves inside the room all missed a beat.
'Ara…?' began Elrohir, but faltered.
Elrond closed his eyes. 'He knows.'
'I can't choose!' Estel screamed. 'I can't!'
He became even more restless than before and started grabbing his blankets as if trying to hold on to them; he was clawing at them desperately as if they were the last anchor in all of Middle Earth.
Elrond continued whispering sweet nothings in Elvish, but soon he realized that Estel did not react at all and quickly turned to his eldest. 'Elladan, go get a glass of water.'
As Elladan hurried out of the room, Elrond once again returned to soothing Estel, meanwhile instructing Elrohir. 'Once your brother arrives with the water, get the vial and carefully measure exactly twenty drops into it, then shake the solution until it turns a transparent forest green.'
Elrond had just spoken the last words as Elladan entered, Elrohir took the vial and mixed twenty drops with the water and in moments it became a brilliant shade of dark green. Elladan gave his father the potion and as Elrohir helped to keep Estel in place Elrond forced Estel to drink the concoction.
It took effect almost immediately and Estel stopped struggling within seconds and went limp; but not before uttering three words. Three words that were like a liberating wind flowing through Rivendell and affecting the mood of every living being in the Elven refuge. Three words that had an enormous impact on the world and especially on the three Elves present in the cream-coloured room.
'Im Estel, Elrondion!'
TBC
Mellonamin = my friend
Iston, mellonamin = I know, my friend
Saes, daro! = Please, stop!
Ada = dad(dy)
Im Estel, Elrondion! = I am Estel, son of Elrond!