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Chapter 16
Mithrandir
Lord Elrond started issuing orders as soon as Anayah hit the ground. Elladan picked his unconscious sister up and carried her into the house followed closely by Elrohir. Elurin, the elvish butler was then instructed to wake Elenath and Míriel, Anayah's ladies-in-waiting, and have them go immediately to the Lady's chamber where he would meet with them shortly. The stable master was told to see to Elias personally and to report to Elrond if the animal had wounds that needed medicine or stitching. He then issued orders to take the horses of King and his escort to the stables where they were to be groomed, fed and bedded down. With a deep sigh, he finally, turned to King Thranduil.
"My Lord, I must apologize for being such a poor host to you this morning and I must beg your indulgence a short while longer, for I must go see to the medical needs of my daughter. My staff will show you to your chambers and will see to any need that you or your escort may have after your long journey."
King Thranduil chuckled. He had been standing next to Elias who was basking in the attention the elf was giving him while the stable master stood a few steps away patiently waiting to take over his charge.
"I quite understand, my Lord, for I too am a father as you well know!"
It was Elrond's turn to chuckle. "Yes King Thranduil, of that I am well aware." He inclined his head in farewell then turned and followed Elurin into the house.
Thranduil dismissed the servant who was waiting to show him to his quarters.
"Thank you, but I believe I will see to this fine creature myself before I go to my chambers and rest. I am sure I will find someone to show me to my room when I am ready."
When the servant bowed his head and had gone back to the house the stable master stepped up and addressed the Mirkwood King.
"My Lord, if you desire to see to the Lady's horse personally, may I show you to the stables?"
"Lead on good sir for I am sure this fine animal desires to have the soil of battle removed from him as soon as possible."
The Mirkwood King was no stranger to fine horses so it was not surprising that he was so taken with the black stallion, for being a Mearas, Elias was blessed with both the stature and bearing that went with the breed - these horses of Númenor. When they reached the stable, he was shown where the horses were bathed. After the dried sweat and blood had been thoroughly cleaned off the animal, the King then led the stallion to his stall and after Elias had been given both grain and hay and was contentedly eating, Thranduil tended his wounds with needle, thread and salve. When asked if he now desired to be shown to his chambers, Thranduil answered that he would like to stay and visit with the stallion awhile longer. Later, members of the King's escort were heard to remark that they had not seen the King so relaxed in many millennia.X
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Lord Elrond had immediately gone to his daughter's rooms and had looked at her arm, then after putting another temporary bandage on the wound to further slow the bleeding, he instructed Elenath and Míriel to bathe their Lady and change her into a warm sleeping gown. He then went to gather what medical supplies he felt he would need. Upon his return, medical supplies in hand, he found both Elenath and Míriel sitting in chairs outside the wounded she-elf's room. His sons were inside and while Elrohir checked Anayah's pulse and put a hand on her forehead to see if a fever was present, Elladan, sensing his father's approach, had unwrapped the blood soaked bandages and was inspecting the wound itself.
"Well?" asked Elrond as he entered the room.
"The pulse is strong and the fever is not very high," Elrohir reported.
"Let us see to the wound then."
"Ada, the wound was made by either a knife or sword and though deep, is clean and shows no heat to indicate a poisoned blade."
"Thank you, my sons." Lord Elrond had flushed the deep gash with an antiseptic athelas rinse and had begun to stitch it closed when he noticed that Anayah was awake and watching him. After smiling at her, he remarked to himself that he was surprised she had neither moved nor cried out as most of his patients did when their wounds were being stitched.
"How are you feeling, daughter?" He had seen the haunted look in her eyes and thought his question benign enough that it might encourage her to speak.
"Did I really walk into a tree?"
Her question, after a few moments of dead silence, caused the three elves in the room to burst out laughing.
After wiping the tears of laughter off his face, Elrond answered her question. "No, my dear, it was not a tree and though you may have thought so, the morning sun was in your eyes - actually, you walked into King Thranduil."
Her eyes widened. "The Mirkwood King? Oh sweet Eru - please tell me that I did not bounce off of, not only your guest, but a King? I am so embarrassed! Where is my closet that I may climb into it and never come out again?"
"I've heard myself called many things young lady, but never a tree!"
All eyes turned to the door. Smiling, Thranduil stepped into Anayah's room.
She tried to hide her embarrassment behind a pillow but found this served no purpose other than to cause those in the room to laugh even harder, so she placed the pillow back behind her head and looked at the tall, regal-looking elf standing at the foot of her bed.
"My apologies for having walked in to you, my Lord for I fear I was being inattentive. It is my most sincere hope that you will accept my apologies."
"It was a great honor to have such a fine warrior as yourself walk in to me." He bowed slightly then smiled down at her as he saw her blush once again. "When you are feeling better, my Lady, I would like to speak with you about your horse."
At the mention of Elias, Anayah sat straight up in bed but unfortunately when she did so, the pain in her arm washed over her like a wave and nearly made her pass out once again. Seeing all the color drain from her face, Elrond gently pushed her back down on the bed.
"Anayah, please calm yourself." Elrond nodded to Elrohir who, after a respectful nod to the King, left the room to make a "tea" for his sister.
"Ada I am fine so please do not bother yourself too much with me. Please, tell me of Elias? As soon as you are finished I must go to him. He has wounds that need to be tended which I should have seen to him before I disgraced myself by walking into a King then passing out - what kind of a friend am I - I am a horrible elf!"
"Peace young one." Thranduil had sat on the edge of the bed. "I have tended his wounds myself and even now he is resting midst fresh bedding after having filled his belly with the finest grain and hay that the honorable Stable Master had to offer."
"You tended him yourself? But Sire ..."
He laid a friendly hand on her arm. "Young lady I will hear no more about this. You just do what your Ada says and we will speak later. I must leave you now and rest awhile myself for I have spent many days in a saddle and I crave the feeling of a soft bed!" Smiling once more, the Sindar Lord left the room.
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"Do you want to talk about what happened?"
Anayah was surprised by her father's question. "Ada?"
"Do you not feel like talking about what happened last night?" Lord Elrond finished applying the last of the bandages to her arm and sat back in his chair.
"I was curious about that myself." Elladan, who had remained silent while his father had tended to his sister's arm, now looked her in the eye as he adjusted the blankets then gently laid her wounded arm on top of them.
Elrohir returned with the tea and handed it to Anayah who smelled it and frowned.
"Drink it little sister!" Elrohir spoke seriously yet there was a twinkle in his eye.
She would have refused the tea but when she looked around the room at the three elves and saw the equally serious expressions on their faces, drank it down without stopping.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a loud cry was heard in the courtyard.
Elrond heard the cry and said one word before he and Elladan left the room at a run. "Gwaihir." Mithrandir had arrived.
"I need to talk to Gandalf, Elrohir." Anayah wanted very much to get up out of bed and go to Gandalf but suddenly began to feel extremely tired, her eyes doing their best to close all by themselves. Just before she finally lost the battle to stay awake she said, "I am never drinking your tea again, Ro!"
Elrohir chuckled softly as he adjusted the blankets around his now sleeping sister.
TBC