Chapter 38

                  Elrond's hand gently ran down his son's back.  He then rubbed his face.

                  " Bloody Eru, what a mess."

He turned to his wife in the doorway.

                  " Where is your mother at this time of the year?"

~*~

                  Elrond sat beside Elladan.  A blanket being placed over his shoulders woke him.  Elrond pulled it closer, not bothering to open his eyes.  He knew who had left it. 

                  " Elrond, I may need your help."

He grudgingly opened his eyes, rising to help Galadriel.  He glanced at his wife and other son curled together in a chair.  Galadriel ran a hand down Elladan's back.

                  " This is removed from its place," she said.

                  " How is it put back?"  Elrond asked.

                  Galadriel gave a small shrug.  She placed a hand over Elladan's back.

                  " Did Vilya work?" she asked in a hushed tone.

Elrond shook his head.

                  " I did not bother to try."

Galadriel let out an irritated sigh sending him a somewhat exasperated look.

                  " What is the use of you having the ring when you do not wield it?"

Elrond glanced at her sharply.

                  " I was more worried of my son then I was of a ring."

Galadriel merely moved to Elladan's head.

                  " The bones here," she pointed as she talked, " Here and here are dislocated.  The paralysis is caused by the pressure they are placing upon the nerve running through the spinal cord."  Galadriel tapped her lips.  " I believe the strength of Vilya and Nenya can heal it."

Elrond gave an absent nod, running a hand over his son's head.  Galadriel touched his shoulder.

*You forget he is also my grandson, Elrond.  I care for him nearly as much as you do.

Elrond just closed his eyes.  Vilya's sapphire light filled the room.

~*~

                  Celebrían and Elrohir awoke as light filled the room.  The two could see two figures working over Elladan, light originating from their fingers.

                  "By the Valar," Celebrían began.

Elrohir began to stand, feeling his brother's sudden pain.  Celebrían pulled him down with a headshake.

*Let them do what is necessary.

~*~

                  A hand fell on Elrond's shoulder.  He glanced back at his wife.  Celebrían handed him a silver goblet.

                  " Twill be of some help with that headache."

Elrond winced as the throbbing in his head was brought to full light.  He sipped the warm liquid.  Celebrían's gentle hands flitted about his shoulders, easing the tense muscles and causing him to relax.

                  " How is he?"

Elrond just shook his head.

                  " Both Galadriel and I are sure he will never perform as well again.  I will advise him to consider becoming a healer.  He will still be able to travel with Elrohir, but at least it gives him a safer purpose."

Celebrían nodded.  She gently kissed his cheek.

                  " I hate to bother you with this, but Erestor is outside seeking to have a word with you.  It seems a delivery is not going as well as the advising healer would like.  They ask that you come."

Elrond set aside the glass, wiping his lips on his sleeve.

                  " You will inform me the moment he awakes?"

~*~

                  Celebrían sat in the huge bed, knees bent so she could balance a book against them.  The frame creaked and she glanced to her right, seeing a body collapse on the bed.  Elrond slowly began to take off his shoes, his hands moving halfheartedly.  Celebrían closed her book.

                  " Do you need help with your shoes?"

She only received a muffled groan in reply.  Elrond's foot slammed against the floor with a loud thud.  He put his head in his hands.

                  Celebrían slipped off the bed, padding around the bed to kneel in front of him.  Elrond glanced up slightly as she began to try and undo the knot he had formed.

                  " Elladan is fine, Elrond," Celebrían whispered.

                  " I cannot help but think it was partly my fault."  Elrond whispered.  "Had I not done that stupid fight with them, Elladan would not be in the predicament.  Better yet, I should have gone with my instinct and checked his back when I first noticed it."

Celebrían released his foot from the shoe, watching him wiggle his toes with a despondent sigh.  She swiftly pulled off the other one.

                  " But you cannot go back and change it.  It is in the past."  She used his knees to stand.  " I see that even that small consolation does nothing."

Elrond just put his head in his hands, staring at the floor.

                  Celebrían smiled mischievously.  She moved back towards her side of the bed.  She crawled over the bed, before lifting the back of his shirt up to pull over his head.  She began to place small kissed trailing up his spine.  She caught his slight shiver.

                  " Bree, not tonight," his hoarse voice urged her on, though he tried to sound daunting.

Celebrían just let her hands roam free of her body.  Elrond leaned his head back slightly, allowing it to lie on her shoulder.  She saw utter abandon in his eyes.  His lips parted a bit and she covered them, giving the solace she had found only she could provide.

~*~

                  Elrond sat in his study, pouring over a book.  His finger trailed down the middle of the page as his lips formed unreadable words.  He could feel her gaze, but ignored it for the time being.  After a few minutes of the fire settling on his skin, he looked up.

                  " It took you long enough to realize I was here," Celebrían said.

Elrond sent her a small smile.

                  " I thought you were in your study."

His wife shook her head, leaning against his doorpost.  She glanced over her shoulders, watching both of their sons join them. 

                  Elrond leaned back, watching with a smile as each twin placed a kiss on either of Celebrían's cheeks.  It had been four months since Elladan's accident and it seemed as if the twin was back to normal. 

                  " Where are you two headed?"  Elrond asked.

Elrohir looked up with a smile.

                  " To see Glorfindel.  He wanted to see us."

Elrond just gave a small nod.

                  " I have no idea what about, so do not try to ask me."

Both twins' faces fell and they exchanged inscrutable glances.  The two quickly began towards where they knew Glorfindel was. 

                  Celebrían watched them go before coming into Elrond's study and closing the door.  He arched an eyebrow.

                  " And what does the lady of Imladris need this glorious day?"

Celebrían smiled demurely.

                  " An audience with the lord of Imladris, that is, if he has the time."

Elrond closed his book, placing a bookmark in it.

                  " It seems he does."

Celebrían settled on the desk, sitting in front of him.  Elrond arched his eyebrows, his dark eyes clouding with anxiety, as she remained silent.  Celebrían ran a hand down his cheek.

                  " You are so beautiful, Elrond.  Tis a wonder you have Edain blood."

                  Elrond's eyes searched hers.

                  " You did not come here to talk about me."

Celebrían sent him a stern glance.  She continued, playing with his hair softly and causing him to try and not shudder. 

                  " I see you every time I look at the twins.  It seems as if your blood overrules mine."  Celebrían tipped his head up slightly.  " I wonder what our next child will look like."

                  " I hope like you," Elrond replied.

Celebrían just gave a small shrug, a smile dancing around the edges of her mouth.

                  " I guess we shall just have to wait eight months and see."