Home Again
Although Anayah held on to enough of her consciousness to be aware that help had finally reached her, she was barely aware of anything else except for her fatigue. She did, however, feel the gentle hands turn her over and lift her from her snowy bed. She felt the nervous fingers as they were placed on her throat where they searched for and found her slow, weak pulse. She heard the worried voices then the one persistent voice that begged her to swallow as something was held to her lips. She could feel the warm cloaks that were laid over her shaking body to try and warm her and the strong arms that wrapped themselves tightly around her while the deep voice that belonged to those arms told her that everything was going to be all right. She heard many voices around her begging her not to go, not to leave them. She heard all this, felt all this and ignored it all.
The voices, though persistent, began to fade as she slipped farther away from her life for she was just too tired to stay. She ignored all the voices until tears fell on her face from the eyes of whoever was holding her. She frowned at this, not understanding why someone would be crying for her. The excited voices, having seen her frown, were once more urging her to wake, to come back to the light but the journey back to the light was just too difficult and she was much to tired to make the effort and so she once more slipped away to the comforting darkness that housed her soul.
She soon discovered she was not alone in the darkness. Off in the distance something began to glow though there was no curiosity about what it might be and no desire to move towards it. The light was insistent, refusing to be ignored and it grew brighter until she was finally forced to turn and face it. There was a choice before her, the choice to remain where she was in the comforting darkness or to follow the light to wherever it led. Then the decision was made for her as a familiar warm breath touched her cheek. It was at this moment that she knew she wanted to go home. She turned toward the light to follow it and encountered pain!
The intensity of the pain and the cold caused her to gasp as the first breath was taken, a breath that burned her laboring lungs and made her clutch almost desperately at the arms that held her as she entered the real world once again. The familiar warm breath once more touched her cheek and she spoke though her voice was weak and tired, and those gathered around her had to listen closely to hear.
"I know you love me Elias, but please step back. Your breath is almost more than I can bear."
All those standing around her began to laugh, though more than one person had to wipe the tears of relief off their face. When Anayah finally opened her eyes and looked tiredly around her, she found that the strong arms holding her were those of Glorfindel. She looked at him for a moment, puzzled, then realization hit her.
"You!" She was almost too weak to speak. "It was your light that found me in the darkness. It was you who led me home!"
"Yes, young one, it was I. I have been told on numerous occasions that my light is most intense. I am glad that I managed to find you, and alive at that, for I would much rather fight another Balrog than have to face your father or your brother with news of your death." He smiled down at the young she-elf then adjusted the many blankets and cloaks that covered her.
When he saw her eyes looking around as if searching for something he made a motion at someone and they moved aside. She could see the sled where King Thranduil was engaged in conversation with ... Legolas! Her eyes widened then and she smiled, relieved that he was not only alive but had been reunited with his father. She had fulfilled her oath to them both.
Satisfied, she sighed softly and her eyes drifted shut as she let sleep take her once more.
* * * * * *
When Elladan saw Anayah close her eyes, he felt a stab of fear in his chest. When the rescue party had first found his sister and Legolas and after they had killed the remaining members of the wolf pack, they had run to where she had collapsed in the snow and found she had not been breathing. They all knew deep in their hearts that she had finally given up and given in. Even after he had been able to coax two sips of the heart stimulant down her throat instead of the one Lord Elrond had recommended, she had still not begun to breathe on her own.
It was Glorfindel who would not give up on her. Even as the others had stood around in shock believing she had already gone from them, it was the Gondolin elf who had sent his own fëa in a search of hers. It was as if he alone had been able to sense that her spirit still lingered near and that it still wanted to live. Those standing around the blonde elf had to shield their eyes as he had closed his own then had willed his glow to brighten. They listened as he spoke to the young she-elf's dying fëa, coaxing it to follow him back to the light of life.
When she had taken that first breath they knew she would live although they also understood her condition was still critical and they needed to get both she and Legolas back to Rivendell as soon as possible. Legolas was put on a horse in front of his father and Anayah rode in Glorfindel's arms, he being reluctant to let her out of his sight. Elias seemed to understand that his Lady was ill and could not ride him yet still he trotted beside Asfaloth, never letting his elf friend out of his sight.
* * * * * *
Once again the House of Elrond was in a state of controlled chaos. An excited border guard had arrived moments before with the news that the search party was returning and that both Anayah and Legolas had been found and were both alive though extremely ill.
Lord Elrond had almost felt nauseous with relief, if that were actually possible for an elf that had lived as long as he had. Now, to take his mind off his own excitement and worry, he began the task of preparing to receive the two sick elves. The guard had relayed news of their injuries to his Lord, exactly as they had been told to him and with this in mind, Elrond was now fully prepared. The care of Legolas he would give to Elladan and Elrohir, both excellent healers in their own right.
He had a special room prepared for his foster daughter. All the windows were closed and a fire was lit in the fireplace. He set a large kettle of water on the fire's grating to heat and soon warm moist air was filling the room. Blankets were warmed and extra toweling was placed nearby to make the moist compresses that were to be applied to her neck and chest.
Being a master healer with millennia of experience, Lord Elrond knew how critical it was to care correctly for those who had been in the cold for too long. Not even an elf with superior healing capabilities could stand extremely cold temperatures over an extended period of time without suffering ill effects. He had sent the border guard back to the returning group with the instructions to jostle Anayah as little as possible as any jar or unnecessary movement could speed the circulation of cold blood through her body which could stop her heart. The stimulant that had been given to her had the additional properties of warming the blood but this effect would only be temporary. There was still a chance she could die.
* * * * * *
When the group finally arrived at the house, Glorfindel was the first rider off his horse and the first elf through the door. Thranduil followed with his wounded son cradled gently in his arms.While Thranduil was directed to the Healing Wing, Glorfindel followed Elrond to the special room that had been prepared for his foster daughter.
All conventions were put aside for the sake of the critical care the young she-elf needed and with Glorfindel's help, Lord Elrond quickly removed her clothing and replaced them with a warm gown. Since her shoulder and arm would eventually need to be treated, they were left bare. Looking closely at the wounds, Elrond concluded that both were infected from lack of proper treatment. To add to Anayah's problems, it looked like the bite marks had bled freely for some time. Low blood volume would definitely influence the treatment she would receive for her low body temperature. After he had quickly and efficiently disinfected both wounds and had sewn them closed, he gently placed her arm back inside her gown.
He then soaked toweling in warm water and placed them on her chest and neck. Finally, when he had done everything he could think of to stabilize her condition, Elrond sat back and sighed. Though the next few hours would be critical, the chances of her living through that time had risen substantially. Glorfindel finally broke the silence.
"She did well, my friend."
"Knowing her character and strength of will as I do, I would have expected no less though I wish the obstacles she faced would have been a little kinder. Where did you find them? How close to Imladris did she and Legolas get?"
"They were but five miles from the river." Glorfindel sat silently as he waited for his friend to respond.
Elrond was amazed. "Five miles? She traveled all that distance, on foot, pulling a sled with Legolas in it, fighting off wolves, and herself wounded, ... in a week?" He shook his head in disbelief. He looked at the fragile-looking being laying on the bed under a pile of blankets; the young she-elf with a heart and will stronger than anyone realized. He lowered his head into his hands and began to weep, both with relief and love. Glorfindel layed a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Would that more of our kind had the strength and courage this young one has."
Elrond nodded his head in agreement.
TBC