Chapter 48
Year 1110
Elrond rushed towards the main entrance of Imladris with half of the healing staff behind him. Glorfindel met him at the front.
" Half of the Mirkwood legion was mutilated. Elvin rangers tried to assist, but they too were assailed." Glorfindel leaned in. " There are even Lórien Elves among the wounded."
Elrond took a deep breath.
" Who is it?"
Glorfindel looked down.
" The Royals and your sons are seriously wounded. It looks bad."
Elrond moved stiffly after Glorfindel.
Elves moved away from the wounded as Elrond passed. Elrond bent by each one, murmuring soft words and then instructing healers. He lastly came to four familiar faces. Elrond knelt beside them.
" How bad is it?" Erestor asked.
Elrond simply shook his head, sending his advisor a pointed glance. Erestor bent beside him. Elrond leaned in close, anxiously awaiting the words.
" I doubt even Vilya will save one of the Royals."
Thranduil strode into Imladris that night as if he owned it. It took every guard at the homely house to restrain the enraged king and convince him that his children were fine. Elrond made his rounds to the most seriously wounded. His cycle took him lastly to the four he had nearly raised. A familiar dark head sat between his sons' beds. He placed a comforting, yet firm hand on the shoulder.
" You should be asleep, Undómiel."
Arwen shook her head tears cascading down her face.
" Nana is not coming, is she?"
Elrond tried to smile.
" Your mother is a busy woman."
Arwen stood, falling into her father's arms immediately.
" If it was not for her, they would have been here in Lórien. You know they take her to Lórien every summer. It is her fault, all her fault. I hate her. If they die, it is her fault for being so selfish and foolish."
" Arwen, stop the dramatics. Your brothers understand the risk of leaving Imladris. They chose to go to Lórien and this is merely unhappy fortune."
Arwen just pressed her lips together.
" You may say it is fate. I say it is that woman."
Elrond pulled her close.
" She is your mother."
Arwen looked up.
" A mother is someone who cares for their child. She is only the one that bore me into the world, nothing else."
Elrond fingered the charm around her neck.
" You are wise, Evenstar."
Arwen smoothed his hair.
" I am learning from the wisest."
Elrond pressed a kiss into her hair, closing his eyes in pain.
You will never know how you remind me of your mother, Evenstar. Never.
" Ada?"
He sent her a smile, pressing another kiss to her cheek.
" Go to bed, Arwen. I will watch them and wake you if their conditions change in the slightest."
Arwen sighed before nodding and slipping out. Elrond sighed, filling her now empty chair.
Where are you Celebrían?
Elrond was luckily beside his sons' when they came back to reality. Two days, they remained unconscious. Elrond stilled Elrohir's jerky movements.
" Where are…Ada?"
Elrond soothed his son
" Lie down, Elrohir. You are safe. Elladan is here too."
Elrohir stubbornly resisted his father.
" And-"
Elrond nodded, forcefully pushing his son back into the pillows as gently as possible.
" She is fine."
Elrohir relaxed, closing his eyes suddenly as if haunted by a ghost.
" They came so suddenly, Ada. There was scarcely time to prepare. We never heard them approach until the first blow fell." Elrohir whispered.
Elrond gently whispered soft words, watching his son relax fully and fall into a deep sleep.
Elrond turned his head, hearing footsteps. A flustered Erestor, indifferent Glorfindel and angry Arwen stood in the doorway. Erestor stepped forward.
" Celebrían of Lórien seeks admission to Imladris. You gave me strict orders to put a moratorium on traffic to and from Imladris. I do not know if this applies to her also."
Elrond shrugged, ignoring that for the time being.
" Glorfindel, we are looking for a large band of orcs in the Mirkwood-Lórien area. Take as many as you need to destroy them."
Glorfindel bowed and then left. Arwen turned to Erestor.
" Send Celebrían of Lórien away."
" Arwen!" Elrond reprimanded in a soft, tired voice.
Arwen crossed her arms, biting his lip and glaring up at the ceiling.
" Fine, let her enter."
Celebrían rushed in in a flurry of silks and Lórien's spring fragrance. She barely noticed her daughter, falling to her knees between the twins' beds. Elrond came up behind Arwen, laying his hands on her shoulders.
" Be at peace, Undómiel." He whispered, placing a kiss at her temple.
Arwen looked up at him, placing one of her hands over his.
" I love you, Ada."
Elrond squeezed her shoulders.
" You seem to be the only woman in my life that does."
Elrond entered, lifting the bandage on Kalaina's abdomen gently. She winced when the cloth caught on the wound, putting her book down.
" I believe you were just here tormenting me, Master Elrond."
Elrond shook his head at her good-natured complaint.
" It is an occupation I enjoy."
Kalaina chuckled before her face turned serious.
" How is-"
" Fine. He suffered a harsh blow to the head, but it seems he will survive."
Kalaina blushed, staring down at her toes.
" I was asking about Elrohir, not Legolas."
Elrond nodded, spreading a light poultice on her stomach.
" I know. I just told you what happened to him." Elrond turned his head. " But it is not so well for your brother."
Kalaina twisted, trying to look into the adjoining room. When she could not see, she began to rise.
" How? What?"
Elrond placed strong hands on her shoulders, gently forcing her down, lest she break the delicate skin covering over her wound.
" If I tell you, you must rest and be still."
Kalaina dutifully nodded, laying back into the pillows.
" I saw Ada earlier. He looked so distraught."
Elrond sighed, glancing at the other room as he spoke.
" You brother suffered a severe head wound and multiple abdominal wounds. He has not awoken since we brought him in."
Kalaina rubbed her eyes viciously.
" He was trying to protect me. If he does not-"
Elrond put a hand on her knee, distracting her from her morbid thoughts.
" He will pull through, Kalaina. Do not harbor such thoughts. I will put every ounce of my knowledge to healing him." Elrond paused. " To be injured in the line of saving someone you love is an honor. You would have done the same for him."
Kalaina just looked away, tears glistening on her cheeks.
" I just worry." She said in a horse whisper. " He is the youngest; the frail one, innocent, sheltered. I always protected him."
Elrond opened his mouth to comfort her. His ears caught onto a soft cough. He turned, seeing his youngest son. Elrond arched a brow. Elrohir simply shrugged.
" Could not stay away?" Kalaina asked softly, eyes on Elrohir.
Elrohir came quickly, sitting beside her and softly beginning to comfort her.
Elrond took his leave silently, knowing she would be fine. He found that Thranduil had not moved from his place beside the comatose body. The king's eyes were fully on his son. Elrond stood silently behind the king.
" Why, Elrond? Why does he remain asleep? Has the blood of the Elves waned so much that our children die before we do?"
Elrond touched the King's shoulder.
" He will be fine. You are the one I am worried about right now. I have a bed right here for you, so you may remain close to him."
" Kalaina?" Thranduil mumbled as Elrond helped him into the bed.
Elrond shook his head in wonder. Thranduil had pushed even his Elvin strength to the limits staying by Legolas' side.
" Elrohir is with her."
Thranduil smiled sleepily, laying his dark head back onto the down pillow.
" They make a beautiful couple."
Elrond glanced back into the room with a surprised look.
My youngest son in love? Well I'll be Morgoth's uncle…