Suddenly she sat up instantly awake. Something had disturbed her sleep. Pulling the blanket off the bed and wrapping it around her shoulders, she crept to the door of the room. Putting her ear to the wood she listened but it all seemed quiet. Slowly she opened it and peered out into the moonlit hall. All was quiet, but then what had woken her? Moving with the utmost care she moved along the corridor towards to the infirmary. The door was slightly ajar, just as she had left it. Looking inside she could see Arwen sitting in the high-backed leather chair. All appeared peaceful. But she would just check…there was no way she would be able to sleep now. She crept into the room, trying not to disturb the slumbering elves. Peering into Arwen's face she gave a start because the beautiful elf's eyes were open and glazed. But then, recalling the previous startling incident she relaxed- Arwen was asleep after all with her head leaning back in the leather of the chair, a small smile playing across her lips. What of Elrond, though? Turning towards the bed she saw him lying motionless and guessed he was also deep in slumber. Her curiosity satisfied along with her momentary anxieties, she began to steal back to her own bed until she saw his eyelids flicker.
'It's all right Eoela, I'm fine,' he whispered. His dark eyes reflected the moonlight streaming through the unshuttered windows. 'I very rarely get to watch my children sleep now they've all grown, and waking to find your father watching you is hardly what you want at their age. The boys in particular would probably think I was some murderous visitor and have me beheaded before I could explain myself.'
Eoela sighed. It was true that one of her few pleasures in the recent past when all had seemed dark was to watch Joel and Eyomn sleeping in all their innocence. She nodded and sat on the edge of his bed, feeling his brow without conscious thought, then realising what she had done and smiling apologetically.
'Sorry, it's force of habit,' she whispered.
He smiled. 'Yes, the habits of a lifetime are difficult to break. Were you married long before your husband's death?'
'No, only ten years. Joel was born a year after we were married.'
'Celebrían and I had been married for twenty-one years before the twins were born. Then Arwen was born a hundred and eleven years later. They still treat her as their little sister and tease her mercilessly.'
The two of them enjoyed the silence for a moment, both lost in their memories; hers of the recent past, and his of the long ago that still seemed as if it was yesterday.
'When she was younger her favourite snack was worms fresh from the garden. It took us ages to break her of the habit. I think she actually enjoyed them. But look at her now.'
'She is very beautiful,' said Eoela. 'You are lucky to have such fine children.' Suddenly she found herself unable to stop yawning.
'You are exhausted.' Now it was Elrond's turn to be concerned, 'Lay down on the bed and sleep.'
Without thinking she obeyed, curling in on herself and surprised at how tired she suddenly felt. Elrond lay still so as not to disturb her and soon could tell by her breathing that she was dead to the world. He relaxed and slowly his eyes glazed as he too slept.
Eoela woke much later with the sun streaming through the window onto her face and the soft tickle of someone's breath warm on her neck. There was a soft groan from behind her and she suddenly recalled everything that had happened the previous day. She had fallen asleep on Elrond's bed. Mortified, she leapt from the bed as if stung, spinning to face the occupant. Elrond was rubbing his arm with a grin on his face.
'It seems to be habit amongst you humans. You fall asleep in someone else's bed, lay on their arm all night and then run away when they try to get some blood back into the offended limb.' He sat, up wincing slightly as the stitches in his stomach pulled. 'I really need a bath, you know. It's a miracle you were able to sleep since I can smell myself.'
'You smell nice,' Eoela said without thinking. Then her words caught up her and she quickly turned businesslike. 'I need to check the stitches first. Then- maybe- you can bathe.'
