Estel pointedly ignored the comment and retained a poise of rather forced dignity. Eoela grinned at their teasing and started to pull the nightshirt over Elrond's head, ignoring his muffled protests at being mothered.
'Its Rodyn today, you know. Will you be able to come to the hall tonight, or shall we cancel the feast?' Elladan asked, struggling to keep a straight face.
'Rodyn already?' replied Elrond in a stifled tone since he'd managed to get his head up one sleeve despite Eoela's best efforts. Once she'd yanked his limbs into their proper places again he tried to affect an air of lordly stateliness which was rather ruined by the fact that his now-dry hair was sticking out at right angles from his head, alive with static. 'What happened to the rest of the week? Of course I'll be at the table, I've not missed one yet and don't intend to today.'
'You'd best check with your healer first Ada, before you make any rash promises,' Elrohir said in a scolding tone. Eoela was by now helping Elrond to stand and straightening the shirt whilst trying to discreetly brush his hair into some semblance of order with one hand.
'What is this Rodyn?' she asked, stifling a giggle when she found that most of his hair now insisted on sticking to her fingers. 'I've heard several people refer to it.'
'Exactly what it says,' Elrond replied, still trying very hard to ignore the unusual goings-on atop his head. 'A day of rest- people are free to do as they wish. Some work at hobbies, some take the opportunity to practise with weapons, some go fishing…'
'And some just laze around all day doing nothing,' Estel finished with a small grin, though more for the look on Eoela's face as she finally freed her hand than for the words.
'It's entirely up to the individual what they do,' Elrond continued with impressive bearing considering the fact that his hair now closely resembled a bird's nest. 'Then in the evening we come together in the hall for evening meal, and then normally go into the Hall of Fire for stories and song. I thought it a good idea when we first settled here and it's just carried on, a sort of tradition.'
'Well as long as it's just eating and listening to stories you should be fine. But you'll need to rest before going down, and I want you boys-' Eoela glared at the twins and Estel until they sheepishly nodded '-to be on hand in case your father comes over giddy or something.'
Elrond pulled a face. 'Have a rest? Baby sitters? What next, woman, nappies?'
'When I'm happy you're one hundred percent better and not before. Now stop moaning and eat your breakfast.' Then she stepped back around him and took in the full-length view of him for the first time.
'Estel?'
'Yes, Eoela?'
'Would you please find Arwen for me and ask if I can borrow a brush?'
Elrond continue grumbling under his breath while eating his breakfast watched over by Elrohir. The rest of them went to the hall and ate with the rest of the Imladris folk, enjoying fresh bread, fruit and milk or tea. When Eoela returned to the infirmary, she found Elrond sitting with his head back - now rather better groomed- in the chair, asleep. Elrohir had moved the tray and was sitting in another chair reading.
'I could see he was tired, but there's no way I was going to tell him to get into bed so I just left him,' he explained. Eoela shook her head and covered Elrond with a blanket, letting him sleep on. It was true; the best healers were the worst patients.
The rest of the day passed in a relaxed mood. Eoela let Elrond stay out of his bed and even took him for a short walk to the window and back, allowing him to sit in the high-backed chair dozing when he wanted. Otherwise they talked, or just sat in companionable silence. Gandalf made an appearance shortly before the normal time for the evening meal, and sent Eoela off to bathe and have her hair done before the feast began. Returning to her room she found a blue dress laid on the bed which, when she tried it on, fitted her perfectly. Firréwen had come to her room to help her with her hair, which was soon brushed to a burnished mane with two small plaits to hold the sides away from her face.
'There, you look as good as any royal lady, not that we get many of those around here. It tends to be mostly waifs and strays like Estel! And who will be escorting you to the hall?'
'No one. This is my first Rodyn so I don't really know what happens,' Eoela replied.
'Don't worry, I'm sure that Estel or the twins will escort you,' Firréwen said with a shrug.
There was a knock at the door which Firréwen answered. Standing in the doorway was Elrond, no longer in his nightshirt but wearing a full length robe in a rich burgundy colour, his undertunic pale grey and embroidered with intricate silver patterns. His hair was woven into several plaits which framed his face and upon his forehead rested a silver circlet. He smiled at Eoela's reaction and managed a small bow.
'Would you give me the great honour of allowing me to escort you to the îdh edinor mereth[1]? I would offer you my arm, my lady, other from the fact I'm likely to fall over if you lean on me.'
'Then I shall take your arm, brannonîn[2], and stop you tripping as you walk.' She offered her arm to him and he gratefully took it. They slowly walked along the passageway and were met at the top of the stairs by Arwen, Elladan, Elrohir and Estel, all dressed in their dress robes and looking like royalty. Even Gandalf looked reasonably clean and unmatted. The twins and Estel surrounded Eoela and their father to ensure that he made it safely to the bottom of the stairs without any mishaps. They progressed into what Eoela now know was called Elrond's Hall, where meals were normally eaten. Today it had been transformed; the tables were spread with snowy linen and each place set with shining cutlery. The table on the dais had also been set. It was towards this that Elrond led the party, stopping at the central chair that more closely resembled a modest throne. It was pulled out for him by Glorfindel XE "Glorfindel" , who did the same for the chair beside it and indicated with a gesture that Eoela should take that seat. She nearly panicked at this stage- she was to sit at the top table, beside the master of the house? She glanced around in worry to find that the hall was full of folk, all looking at her expectantly, and the rest of Elrond's family were all standing by their chairs waiting her to sit. She looked towards Elrond, but he only smiled and tipped his head graciously towards her. Trying to appear unperturbed she finally sat down as Glorfindel eased her chair forward. Staring at her lap, she tried to avoid looking at everyone as the sounds of people sitting and settling echoed around the suddenly enormous hall. A hand touched her arm, making her jump, and glancing up she was surprised to see that it belong to Elrond. In the other was a goblet of wine.
'Here drink this. You're as white as a sheet,' he said. 'Are you all right?'
She nodded, unable to stop the embarrassed tinge to her complexion. 'I'm not used to being stared at by so many people, that's all.'
'Let's give them something to stare at then.' He pushed himself up away from the table and stood, briefly flashing her a wicked grin.
'People of Imladris, visitors from distant lands, friends from nearby, welcome to our îdh edinor mereth. This is made all the more a festival than usual because of the events of the past week.'
Eoela now saw Elrond as he truly was, a mighty Elven Lord, all signs of weakness were gone. These were his people, the folk he protected and loved and who loved and respected him.
'As you have no doubt heard, our borders were breached by a band of orcs.' There was murmuring from several people in the hall but Elrond held up his hands to silence their concern. 'This group was destroyed by a band of our hunters. I had been taken prisoner by this rabble and believed that I was on my way to Mordor for some unknown purpose. But I escaped, and was rescued and made well by a refugee from northern lands. She and her children are, we believe, the last of her people, the Númenan. Thus she seeks a new home. Would she be welcomed here?'
Suddenly the hall erupted into cheering as everyone rose to their feet, holding aloft their goblets.
Elrond turned to Eoela with a small, knowing smile. 'I rather think we'd all like you to stay. Now will you be so good as to stop dithering and agree to this?'
Eoela nodded her eyes beginning to overflow with tears as he turned back to the assembled and now very noisy multitude.
'People of Imladris, this household has a new member. Greet Eoela the Healer.'
[1] Festival day meal. Literally - day of festival meal
[2] my lord
