'Talking about your Adar, I really think I should go and check on him.'
'I can see you'll not rest until you do. Very well, I'll come with you.'
They left the hall to cheery goodnights and made their way up the stairs to the healing room. Eoela gently opened the door to the room so as not to disturb the patient. Estel was sitting in the large arm chair with his legs thrown over the arm, reading a book. He looked up as Eoela entered the room, greeting her with a smile. When he noticed Arwen behind the smiled broadened to an inane grin.
'Vedui, Arwen…[1]'
'Vedui Estel. How has your day been?'
Estel blushed the colour of a ripe tomato. Not only had he summoned the courage to greet Arwen, but she had replied- and asked him a question!
'Fine. Um. Busy. Um. Busy. Helping Eoela and…and things,' he stuttered. 'Um. I have to- to- um. To go. Yes, that's it. I have to go now.' He fled the room at a full run.
'Well, that was an improvement,' Arwen said. 'He normally just goes red and then runs off.'
'That's because he's obviously infatuated with you.'
'Don't be silly! That's Estel. He's my baby brother!'
'You might think of him as your baby brother, but I think he's beginning to think of you as more than his big sister. You are very beautiful and he is just thirty.'
Now it was Arwen's turn to blush.
'Who's beginning to think of who as more than a big sister?' came a voice from the bed.
'Ada, you're awake! How are you feeling?'
'You didn't answer my question!' Elrond insisted.
'No one,' said Eoela. 'It's one of the others we were talking about. How are you feeling?'
'Don't fuss woman, I'm fine.'
'Ada, you're not fine, we've had a terrible time with you. You even called on the Ring.'
'I did?'
'Yes you've been very ill. Can you remember anything that happened?' inquired Eoela.
'I remember walking in the garden, and Estel calling. Then it all gets confusing, I'm sure that there were orcs. They chased me, I fell off the cliff. Then I saw Celebrían. I must have been dreaming.'
Eoela was all the time gently manoeuvring the elf onto his back, with his knees drawn up.
'How does you stomach feel?'
Elrond considered the question, tentively touching his stomach over the bandages. 'They shot me, then they push the arrow into me.'
Eoela nodded. 'Yes we very nearly lost you. You were bleeding so badly I had to sew the vein in your stomach shut.'
'Oh. That bad?'
'That bad,' she confirmed. 'I'm going to change the dressings now, so I want you to lay quiet.'
'I suggest you stop patronising me human, or you may see the wrath of Elrond.'
'Hmm, yes. Arwen and the twins were telling me about that at dinner earlier.'
'Arwen, how could you?' he protested. 'That was my last threat to stop her treating me like some sort of bedridden old fool.'
'But Ada, you are a bedridden old fool,' Arwen said, then hastily added, 'At the moment.'
Elrond made a move to sit up but the tug of the stitches in his stomach stopped him just in time. Eoela was finding it hard to keep a straight face, she could see that this elven lord was well loved by his family and all the others in his house. She cut the bandage away and gently peeled the dressing back. Elrond, in his propped position, was able to view her handiwork.
'Needlework never was my strong point,' she said. 'What do you think?'
'Very pretty, if a little crooked. Why the loop at the end?'
'Makes taking them out easier,' she replied, swabbing the tissues with a marigold solution. 'There, that looks better with all the dried blood washed away. I normally leave them in for a week but I've been told that you elf folk heal quickly. I'll keep an eye on them. Apart from a tender stomach how do you feel? Any aches or pains? Fever?'
Elrond shook his head. 'No, nothing to worry about. A few aches but then that's to be expected at my age.' He grinned at Arwen. 'No, I really feel quite well. Mucky, though. I need a bath, and my hair is full of bits,' He pulled a twig from his hair and gave it an offended look. 'It feels like it's been washed in mud!'
'Well, you did end up in the river. Maybe tomorrow you can have a bath, and we'll wash your hair for you. But only if you go to sleep now,' said Eoela. She offered him the cup of tea which Arwen had been making.
'Here, this will help you to sleep. I'll sit with you until you nod off.'
As Eoela thought, the tea did not take long to work and he soon drifted into sleep.
'You get off to bed now, Eoela, I'll watch him for tonight. I don't need much sleep and you look dead on your feet,' Arwen said as she shepherded Eoela out of the door. She then took her station in the chair and prepared to watch the night away.
Eoela returned to her room to find the bed turned down, a cheery fire in the grate and her nightdress laid out ready for. These elves certainly know how to make a person feel welcome. She had a quick wash in the bathing room then changed into her nightgown and snuggled down into the bed. It had been so long since she'd slept in a proper bed, she soon drifted off into a deep sleep, unbroken by dreams.
[1] Informal greeting (hi)
