Wet and miserable, I went back to my room and changed. Still shaking with cold, I pulled on a dry chemise and crawled back into bed. I shivered under the blankets until I got warm and then, once again, tried to figure out what the HECK was going on.

What was it with Dalmiel? Why did he keep visiting me and trying to get me to go off with him? Not that he wasn't a pretty elf---He had grey green eyes, really long brown hair, usually braided back.

But, I wasn't an elf. What could I do for him? And why, when I was with him, did I just going along with him with no question?

I hunched up under the quilt. Its silly I know, but I felt like a little kid. If I just stay here in bed, hiding---everything nasty will go away. I'd get better really quick, eat more and go riding again and wander about the gardens and do my translating with no one hovering about and.

I fell asleep and had awful, awful dreams. I awoke with a splitting headache and the shivers again. And a compulsion was on me again to go wandering.

It was still night, though the moon had sunk lower than the western sides of the gorge Rivendell lay in. It was really late, probably three a.m.-ish I could hear some singing, but it sounded far away.

I sat up and the compulsion was so strong, I barely had the presence of mind to grab my crutches. Down the corridor I stumped, rushing. I could feel sweat on my brow and I had the jitters again.

I was back at the elf lord's study again! I mean it was one of my favorite places, but usually when it held the elf lord. But now? In the middle of the night?

I opened the door, and saw the room was slightly red with the dying coals of the day's fire.

Closing the door softly behind me, I stood still a moment, my eyes going unfocused. I don't know how long I stood there, when I suddenly moved and went back to the cabinet and shelves behind the desk. I picked up a candlestick and stuck it into the coals until it lit.

Back behind the desk where I knelt, putting the candle on the floor. I opened the cabinet door carefully and looked at the pile of journals there. What was I looking for? I shifted things about.

Aha-there behind a pile on the bottom shelf, was a large wooden box. I sat on the floor awkwardly and pulled it to me, pushing aside the journals before it.

Once the box was in my lap, I saw it had a rune on it. The rune for the letter "I." Perhaps Imladris? I opened the box, biting my lip and inadvertently winced as the heavy lid dropped back.

Parchment. Just a pile of parchment covered in the elf lord's tidy writing. I lifted a few sheets out and scanned them. Fall harvest, spring plantings. Cows and calves. There was nothing here. Wait, a map of Imladris, and under that, drawings of buildings. Why, these were like architect drawings. There were measurements and lists of materials. I put them aside and then pulled up the last one.

It was a listing of the people here. My goodness, there were only 63 names on the list, and only a few of them women. Surely there were more elves here?

The pressure came back and I sat there staring at this list for a long time and then suddenly, I found myself blinking and the back of my head hurt.

I felt very weak and yucky. Blinking at the mess I made of the loose parchment, I was careful as I could be to put back every thing as I had found it. I picked up the candle and pushed it back along the table far enough so it was standing properly, and then painfully got up. The foot at the end of my injured ankle was numb, so it took me several minutes to get myself balanced enough to move.

Feeling at sixes and sevens, I stumped back to my room.

I flopped on my bed, and realized I was still holding that list of elves from the box! With a shrug, I put it under my pillow.

Teeth chattering, I crawled back under my quilt.

I had already drunk the goblet the elf lord had left earlier and it had been removed. So I curled up tight and tried to relax again, the quilt over my head.

But I was still sweaty and my darn headache. Oh I wished Ivy were with me! She'd be such a comfort right now.

Half-awake, I heard the "thunk" of something on the table closest to me and I turned and pulled off the quilt.

It was so dark, I wasn't quite sure who was standing at my bedside and I sort of scrunched back into my pillows. It had better not be Dalmiel!

"Marie, it is I," said the elf lord softly.

In a moment, he had lit the candle next to me and I sank back into bed, relaxing. He had brought another goblet.

He brought his hand to my forehead and then felt along my jaw. Frowning, he straightened and said, "You have a fever again, Marie. This is quite unexpected. You have been improving steadily these last few days."

I nodded slowly in agreement. "I am sorry. Trust me, I really want to get better too. I hate this."

"I am sure you do." Uncharacteristically, he sat on the edge of my bed and picked up my left hand. It was so thin looking in the steady candlelight. His finger found my pulse point. Letting my hand drop, he sighed. "Your pulse is rapid as well."

"It's these darn dreams I have been having. They keep me from sleeping. Can you not do something?" Oh, I was whining, and I didn't like it. But I was miserable and I didn't want to wander the halls of Rivendell anymore tonight searching for...stuff. Or on any other night.

He turned to the goblet and held it out to me. I drank it quickly, the tart cordial thick with strange flavors.

Taking the now empty goblet and setting it back on the table, he looked at me for a moment and then taking a deep breath, he laid both hands along side my head.

I felt disoriented for a moment and the elf lord's face swam sickeningly in front of me. My stomach even began to do flip-flops. I tried to pull away, but his grip became firmer. His eyes took on the deep look of concentration and finally, I fell asleep.

The morning was almost gone when I awoke. I lay there, trying to remember just exactly what I had done last night, but my mind was blank. I felt weak and empty.

But I wasn't hungry. But, tired as I was, I hated lying about. I had done too much of that lately and I needed to get back on my feet. Sighing heavily, I sat up. I looked about, but could not see my crutches anywhere. Using the table next to me I hopped/hobbled to the bathing room and freshened up.

I avoided the small looking glass.

I drank a big cup of water and then stumbled back to my bed. I sat on the edge of the mattress and caught my breath. I felt SO darn weak! I looked at my wardrobe along my wall. Okay, I could do this. I could hobble/hop to it and get a clean dress.

Leaning on the wall and on the chair Elrond usually sat in, I made it to my wardrobe and sighing, pulled out a soft blue dress. Leaning against the cupboard door, I pulled off my chemise and slipped my dress on. It did not have any laces so I didn't need anyone to help.

Feeling like I had accomplished a lot, I turned and bumped right into the imperturbable elf lord, who caught me.

"Marie, you must rest. I have never seen orc poison affect some one so. I have treated a great many elves and men over the years who had been affected by the poison. But I have not seen a reaction like yours. How did you sleep after I visited you?"

Too tired to whip up any indignation, I slumped in his hands. "All right, I think." I looked up at him, trying a smile. "It would be me to test your skills all the time."

Lord Elrond laughed at that. "Ah, but Marie, I enjoy your "testing." As I have told you, you keep my healing skills sharp."

I just shivered in response. Oh, he was right. And what could I do now, feeling like a wet noodle?

He picked me up and took me out of my room.

"Where are we going? I am just tired."

"I know, Marie. But I want to observe your sleep, so you are coming into the study with me. I have work I must attend to there. This way, I can do both."

Shoes. Surely he had seen me sleep enough. I had slept enough. I just wanted to be well.

Trying to forestall the inevitable, the moment he lay me on the couch beneath the big window facing north I asked, "Could I not have something to eat first?'

"Are you hungry?"

I nodded slowly. Wasn't really. But I didn't want to sleep anymore. I just had those terrible dreams..

After putting a blanket over me, Lord Elrond left the study.

Without a second thought, I got up slowly from the couch, pushed by that horrible compulsion. I hobbled over to his desk, rifling through his parchments boldly.

Nothing gave me pause, though. They were mostly household accounts and one letter he was writing to the Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood.

I started to brush it aside, but the compulsion intensified with a vengeance, making me wince. I leaned on the desk and stared at the letter, absorbing the information.

When I was done, the compulsion left just as suddenly, making me waver on my feet. Shaking, I went around the desk and back to the couch.

Not a moment too soon! Elrond re-entered the study carrying a small tray. A bowl and cup sat on it. Leaving the tray on his desk, he pulled a small table from its spot near the window. He then took the tray and set it down, within my reach.

"Do you need any help?"

"No, thanks, I can manage."

Nodding, the elf lord went and sat behind his desk, picked up his quill and began writing.

I looked at the food. The bowl obviously held broth. It smelled good. But would it stay down? Oh heck, I needed to eat. I sat up slowly and picked up the bowl. Its earth-toned sides were cool but the broth was pleasantly warm and after a few tentative sips, I drank the rest when I was certain I was not going to be sick all over the floor.

But the bowl was all I wanted. I took a few sips of the cup and it was a thick, fruity drink, the flavor of strawberries predominant but I didn't finish it.

I flopped back against the couch pillows. And now, he wanted me to sleep. Well, I did feel a little better with something in my stomach. And my head seemed to hurt less.

I yawned and got more comfortable. Well, maybe I could sleep a little more.

A flickering on my eyes woke me. I stretched and saw I was still in Elrond's study. The fire across from me in the hearth caused the flicker. I glanced around and saw that the elf lord was absent. He had clearly been working, his desk was covered with parchments and journals. A big branch of candles threw light over the whole of the large desk.

I sat up and picked up the cup that was still sitting there and finished it off. It was tasty and I actually wished there was more. About to get up and go back to my room, the study door opened and Dalmiel came in.

"Oh no, Dalmiel, I am not going anywhere with you. I'll just get into trouble."

His eyes went dark and intense and as he came up to me, he said quietly, "We have to go Marie. We must."

"I haven't got my crutches," I said smugly.

And without a by your leave, he picked me up and swiftly left the study.
I was so surprised, I didn't say a word until he had crossed the corridor and was half way through a garden of spring flowers just coming into bloom. "Wait! Put me down Dalmiel! I don't want to go anywhere!"

He paused by a hedge, hiding us effectively from the House. He captured my gaze with his spooky eyes. They were almost burning and I could not tear my glance from his. I suddenly felt myself go completely limp. I had no fight in me.

Once I was relaxed, Dalmiel seemed to shutter his intensity and then continued on at a brisk pace.

Several minutes circuitous route found the two of us behind the stables, at the far end of one of the paddocks. He whistled and soon, a bay gelding trotted up.

Still holding me, he went to the gate and let the horse out. Practically before I could blink, he leapt and mounted the horse. He kicked it into an easy canter, me still clutched in his arms.

The horse's canter slowed to careful walk as we ascended the western side of the gorge. I had never been this way and through the fading twilight, I could see it was barely used.

I stared up at the deepening sky and watched the first stars come out, between onrushing clouds. A chill wind stirred both of our hair and made me shiver. Dalmiel's face was shuttered and blank. He looked as if his thoughts were miles away.

I wanted to get off and go back to the House, but I had no energy. I felt just like I had before Elrond had come to my room last night

Now, where were we headed?

And more importantly, to whom?