CHAPTER ELEVEN

A Change of Heart

Legolas was the first to see Rivendell up ahead in all its splendor and glittering crystal waterfalls. He smiled and whispered down to the still form of Aragorn in his arms, "We are there my friend and salvation is near I hope." His blue eyes swirled as he looked behind him to see Elladan coming up, bearing the sleeping Elrohir. Elrohir's chest rose and fell unevenly, but he was alive. Gilloth came up last of all, bearing his dead brother, Aldalossë, in his arms.

Elladan gave a sweet and yet bitter smile, "at last we look upon home again. I did not think we would make it so far." He spoke the heart of all of them and he looked down at Elrohir as though his twin was a mere babe. "We are back Elrohir and Ada will take care of you." Elrohir seemed to smile warmly in his death like slumber. Legolas just watched as a bird flew over the horizon and in to the mist that lay about Rivendell and floated down from the mountains.

Gilloth frowned and said, "we have reached there, but we have yet to get inside." He shifted the weight of his dead kin and looked at them all. "I think if we hasten down we can beat them there, for surely they have not traveled after us this far this quickly."

Elladan spoke again, "but they have the lust for revenge burning into their hearts and I doubt it will easily be cooled. We have to get home to my father Gilloth." He took and wrapped the cloak tighter about his brother and he heard Elrohir murmur faintly in his sleep.

"I still doubt they will have traveled so far so fast after us. For Ruthaer is argumentative and would have spent at least an hour arguing with Morceleb. I would not be surprised to find he spent two," reasoned Gilloth.

Together the companions entered Rivendell. All of the could not help but run now, for they were so close to achieving their goal and failure was not an alternative.

They raced into the Hall of Fire where each at some point or another had stood for a few moments before they had departed on the dangerous quest.

Elrond was pacing and save for the raven-haired Elf-lord the room was empty and the embers to the fires burned low as though in sleep. Instantly Legolas was sharply reminded of the drug and its sleep like effects. He shuddered and then looked back as Elladan called out, "Ada!"

Elrond spun around to face them and said, "My sons and prince Legolas you return! Ancú has already made it back, or so Erestor has informed me. Glorfindel was preparing to go and find you, but he is supposed to check in with me before he departs so he will know you made it here."

He was about to embrace his eldest son when he saw Elrohir gathered in Elladan's arms wrapped in the cloak. He saw the dried blood about his middle son's mouth and he felt fear clutch his heart. Was Elrohir dead? No, he breathed. But he knew that his child was in great pain, for the Elf would shift and hiss. "Elrohir," he breathed sorrowfully to his son.

"Ada?" asked Elrohir, opening his eyes slowly and blinking. Elladan felt like he was going to faint and he felt tears rising in the back of his eyes ready to spill forth.

Elrond carefully drew back the cloak near Elrohir's abdomen and saw the blood, red and bright still oozing from an ugly and yet perfectly cut wound. Elladan's eyes suddenly went spacious and he reeled. Elrond quickly took Elrohir up in his arms and held his child as his other one went out stone cold onto the floor.

Sorrow, and weariness had gotten the best (or worst) of Elladan and he could not cope. He had caused Elrohir his pain and their Ada his worry. Even though he had not caused all of it, he had caused enough. He was weary from grief.

Elrond watched in slow motion as Elladan fell to the floor and was still in unconsciousness. "Glorfindel!" he called quickly. He needed help.

"Here my lord," said Gilloth, placing his dead brother on the ground gently. "let me aid you." Gilloth went and carefully collected Elladan up into his arms and looked at the Elf-lord that stared down at him as he stood up. Though Gilloth was older, he knew who his betters were.

Elrond knitted his brow and asked in an almost cold voice, "who are you? Why are you here?" After all, it was hard to decide whom he should place his trust in and this strange Elf did not seem like a likely candidate to him.

"I am an outcast, though some may call me a traitor, but once I was Gilloth," he answered quickly. He stared at Elrond for a moment and Elrond stared back as the two strove in silent thought and trail.

Elladan stirred in his arms and he murmured, "I did it. I killed him Ada, I am sorry I did." Elrond looked at his eldest son. And then he looked to Legolas, who bore Aragorn. The human was in a deep sleep or unconsciousness, it was hard for one to tell. "Follow me, both of you," he uttered softly.

They were led back to Elladan's room and Elrond placed Elrohir and Elladan on the bed side by side. Elrohir looked at his father's pained gray eyes and asked in a tired voice, "is Elladan alright Ada? I saw him fall. How is Estel?"

Elrond sighed and said, "don't make me put you under Elrohir." He began to unwrap the cloak form about his son to see the wound better.

"Ada, there is no need. I am sleepy enough-" his father gave him a sharp glare and Elrohir closed his eyes and mouth. He began to drift of into sleep just prove his statement that drugs were not needed.

Legolas spoke from behind Elrond, "Master Elrond where shall I place Estel?" he asked in a soft voice. It seemed to him that they had forgotten about the human. But he knew better, he knew looks were deceptive and that Estel was one of the foremost in Elrond's heart.

Elrond spun around and passed a weary hand past his brow. If his sons continued in the habit of getting injured and nearly dying they would age him before it was time to leave for Valinor. He hadn't meant to temporarily forget about Estel that was just how it had happened. He had to stop doing this. Quietly he stammered, "place him in his own room Legolas and do look after him as I try and tend to his reckless brothers."

Legolas left swiftly and was in Aragorn's room within seconds. Carefully, he lay the young Dúnedain on the soft feather down mattress. He whispered softly, "we are home and your brothers are getting tended to. Everything will be alright." Legolas secretly hoped that Lord Elrond would hurry and tend to Aragorn's wounds. They were many and if you counted them all together they were grievous.

Elrond looked at the wound Elrohir had sustained. It was deep and seemed to have run his middle son though the abdomen. He also noticed the cut was not crude, but perfect, the cut of an Elf warrior. Carefully he began to peel away Elrohir's bloodied tunic to reveal the skin around the injury. It was not red with infection. Nor was it hot. As a matter of fact, it was oddly cold with a seemingly fell chill.

Elrond looked at Elrohir and began to wonder what had befallen him when Elladan woke. He looked at his father and asked softly, "are you angry with me Ada?" His voice sounded almost child like and Elrond looked at him hard and yet softly.

"Why would I be angry with you my son?" he asked in a low and kind voice. What had Elladan done to reap his wrath? Gilloth looked at them uncomfortably and shifted his foot from one to the other. Elrond looked at the strange Elf and back at his eldest child.

Elladan felt tears burning in his eyes so he shut them; scared that the silver drops would appear and his father would see he was afraid. "I killed Elrohir father. I ran him through. Please tell me he will live."

Elrond looked at his son with knitted brows and said, "But he is alive and his wound is not infected. You did not kill him Elladan," Elrond tried to reason to his paranoid son.

Elladan sank deeper into his pillow and he sobbed, "but I did Ada and the Valar brought him back." Elladan felt wiped out and he felt like a turncoat. He did not deserve his father's love, not after what he had done...

Elrond took Elladan's chin in his hand and forced his son's face to look at his. "Look at me Elladan," and then Elrond's eyes suddenly went large and he stammered, "you can see." His voice was full of so much surprise that if things had not been so dire Elladan would have chuckled. Elrond's face seemed to lighten when he saw his son's strong, clear gray eyes staring back. They were no longer pale and dull, but bright and full of color. However their surface shimmered with unspilled tears.

Elladan turned his head away, not wanting the guilt that was in his eyes to reflect back into his father's. "I was given back my sight after Elrohir's death and our capture," he mumbled quietly.

Elrond looked at his son and said, "but how as it that you killed your own brother?" None of this was making any sense.

"He came to rescue me from many foes and I did not see him as he fought by my side, for I was still blind. Thinking Elrohir to be a foe I stabbed him and ran him trough." Elladan let the tears roll down his face and he sobbed loudly, "it was an accident. I didn't mean to, but I did."

Elrond gently bracketed Elladan's head with his hands and turned his son's head to see him. Elladan looked away with his eyes. Elrond felt tears in his own eyes and said, "I know you did not mean it. Elrohir is well and I will see him through. He is not angry with you and so you need not be angry with yourself. I love you Elladan, and I always will."

Elladan whirled his gray eyes to meet his father's and he gave a weak smile back. "I love you Ada." Elrond bent down and embraced his eldest son in a huge fatherly hug. Elladan buried his face in his father's robes like he had after a bad dream when he was but a small child. For a moment they were both lost in memories of happier times and sad times alike.

Elrond murmured, "it is well my son." He pulled away and looked in Elladan's wet eyes. To him it seemed both the wins were little children again and had just had a bad dream around two in the morning. He ran his hand down the side of Elladan's face and then the raven-haired Elf-lord sighed. "You need rest."

Elladan smiled around a large yawn. "Ada I can't. They will be here and I have to find Ancú so we can go against them." But before he even finished his thoughts he fell asleep.

However, Elrond was not relieved. "They" was not at all encouraging. Who were "they" and how many did "they" consist of. He turned and saw Gilloth standing in the corner watching the exchange and he noticed Elrond was looking at him. "You are Gilloth, correct?"

"I am my lord," answered Gilloth respectfully. He bowed his head in homage. "I will not lie to you Lord Elrond. I was once one of the companions of Morceleb who was harbored here for a time under your care. I was the leader of the patrol that ambushed your twin children and I captured your human son. I am the brother of Aldalossë, who I brought here dead."

Elrond gave Gilloth a sharp look and asked in a tone that was filled with suppressed anger, "and why do you tell me this? Are threatening me?" His voice turned into a calculated growl.

Gilloth remained calm and by doing so also earned the respect of Elrond and caught his attention. "I tell you because I wish for a clear conscience and no longer wish to be a part of them. I cannot go back to them; they would kill me. But if you wish I will leave your halls. I ask one favor of you only and no more."

Elrond sighed and even as he turned his gaze upon Elrohir and his wound he asked, "what would you ask of me?" Elrond began to move Elrohir's hands away from the laceration.

"I would ask to have the honor of giving my brother a final resting place here," answered Gilloth in a near whisper.

Elrond stopped working on preparing Elrohir's wound for cleaning and he asked thoughtfully, "how was it he died?" He would normally never ask this question, but with all the chaos it was mandatory that he knew the answer.

Gilloth murmured, "he tried to lead Ancú and the man called Estel through the caves. They were once inhabited by orcs, as you well know. Ancú was caught in a trap and he was shot b a single arrow. This triggered a collapse of the cavern. My brother was crushed to his death." These were sad tidings under any situation, but now they were horrible.

Elrond knitted his brows and said, "I will grant you your request. A large oak grows in the garden, I think that at its foot would be the perfect place for him to reside in." Suddenly he said, "I was not told Ancú had any injury."

Gilloth looked at Elrond with raised brows and a dark frown to match and said, "from what I was told he was near death and had been smacked around quite a bit. Have you seen him my lord?"

Elrond scowled and spoke thickly, "no I have not, not yet anyway, but that can be changed." He went back to work on Elrohir. Carefully he felt around the wound to see what organs had been sundered and what ones were swelling. To his utter amazement and horror he realized that the lung had been punctured and two ribs split. He knew that the Valar were preserving his son for something, but he knew not what.

Gilloth looked at Elrohir and Elladan with a look of pity and sorrow. They reminded him sharply of himself and Aldalossë. Close and ever together...until now. For his brother was gone. He muttered quietly, "I will take my leave Lord Elrond."

Elrond nodded and said; "get some rest. You are safe here, but if you pass Ancú in the halls, tell him I want him immediately. You know who he is I take it?"

Gilloth gave a curt bow of his head and said, "I do indeed my lord." Elrond nodded again as though faraway and Gilloth left him.

Going out into the Hall of Fire he went to his brother's side and picked up one of Aldaloss's cold and still hands. He looked at his brothers eyes, eyes that would never see Middle Earth again. They were closed and it looked as though his brother lay only in peaceful sleep and had not died a horrible death with his body crushed. "You are going to be buried here little brother. In Rivendell, the place you would have loved. The Lord Elrond has promised me that you can be set to rest beneath the large oak tree in garden." He bent his head and set it against his brother's chilled forehead. "I am going to miss you."

Glorfindel came striding into the Hall of Fire and when he saw Gilloth bending over his fallen brother he stopped. This was a new Elf. Glorfindel knitted his brows and stared for a moment. The figure that this stranger was kneeling over was a dead Elf. He could see that the other was grieving heavily.

Sighing, the Elf of Gondolin strode over and set a hand on Gilloth's shoulder. "You are no Rivendell Elf," he murmured softly. "For what purpose do you mourn? I am sure he is blissful where he is and looking down on you."

Gilloth looked up at Glorfindel and said, "I remember you, you were the one my patrol attacked, Balrog-Slayer." He choose to ignore the comment made about his brother.

The golden-haired Elf frowned. He had not seen the Elves that had attacked him. But he had to wonder what this immortal was doing here mourning over another Elf when he had been trying to kill him. "What brought you here?" he asked tersely and somewhat coldly. He was recalling how his poor horse had taken the wound meant for him.

"I mean no harm, I seek no retribution, only forgiveness. I am no longer in league with Morceleb," answered Gilloth. He never looked up from his brother.

Glorfindel nodded and said, "I see. And why did you leave?" he asked calmly with a surprisingly serene look in his blue eyes. He cocked his head ad looked down at Gilloth.

The other Elf frowned, "my brother died for the Son's of Elrond and I would like to prove that he did not die in vain," explained the raven-haired Elf quickly. "I also mean to bury him here. Lord Elrond said I may lay him to rest beneath the oak tree in the gardens of his refuge."

Erestor showed up and when he saw Glorfindel and Gilloth talking he called out, "and what is going on here? Glorfindel you were supposed to go and-who is that?" he asked with a start.

Glorfindel looked down at Gilloth and said, "you will have to forgive Erestor, he is rather...what is the word for it?...Touchy about strangers in the Last Homely House."

Erestor wrinkled his nose and said with a snort of dignity, "I just don't drag anybody in here Lord Glorfindel." Glorfindel gave a wry chuckle and Erestor predicted, "I bet you will bring hobbits in here someday! Honestly you and the twins will probably call in a whole troop of dwarves or perhaps a hobbit with them!"

Glorfindel shook his finger at the fuming adviser. "You exaggerate. It will never happen."

Erestor rolled his dark eyes and said, "you say that now, but don't say I didn't warn you when Valar forbid dwarves come marching in here!" Then his gaze turned back onto Gilloth and he said, "who are you? I do not believe I know you."

"I am Gilloth," answered the mourning Elf quickly and without hesitation.

Glorfindel looked up at Erestor and said, "go and tell Elrond that I will come and speak to him in a moment. I have to show Gilloth where he can lay his brother until later when we can bury him." Erestor nodded slowly and spoke not a word but turned in the direction of the twins rooms where he guessed the Elf-lord would be, mourning over his sons whom he presumed were dead.

Glorfindel looked at Gilloth and said, "would you like me to carry him?"

Gilloth looked up at Glorfindel. The Gondolin Elf did not show any sign of loss or grief. "The death of another seems to effect you not. What kind of an Elf-lord are you?"

Glorfindel gently in a near caress like gesture, gathered Aldalossë up into his arms and said, "I know where he is and I know he is happy. He awaits you and yet he hopes you will never join hm."

"I am sorry," answered Gilloth. "I forget you and who you are. Great are you deeds Lord Glorfindel."

Glorfindel frowned in thought and as they began to walk down the hall he said, "perhaps at one time, but I cannot say only history and those who judge it." He gave a soft chuckle and said, "it is hard to fathom one being dead and living again. I for one am still trying to understand the full reason they sent me back in the first place. I perceive I have a job to do yet, but I know it not."

Soon they were in the Healing Ward and Glorfindel went to a bed and benevolently set the Elf he bore onto the soft linen sheets and he looked at Gilloth. The raven-haired Elf spoke softly, "he was my brother and I do not ask your help to bury him." Gilloth gingerly took his pale brother's hands and crossed them across the cold chest.

Gilloth did not understand why Morceleb hated the Son's of Elrond so. Everybody under the Elf-lord's roof was kind and understanding even if they were a little demented. Gilloth did not want to go back to his home. His father would not accept him, Morceleb wished to take his life and his brother was dead...forever. He knew that Aldalossë would not rise from the dead like Elrohir had or even Glorfindel. Aldalossë was gone for eternity. How would he tell his father that he let his brother die? He couldn't, he was not going home. He could not live here either; he had caused too much grief here. No, he had one option left; he had to fight and die here to try and destroy the evil he had helped to bring into being.

Glorfindel did not say anything as he left. He just took one last look at Gilloth before he turned and went out the door, leaving the other to himself.

Elrond rose up from where he had been seated on the edge of the bed looked at his twin children, side by side and sleeping. A faint smile played on the Elf-lord's lips as he saw Elrohir shiver and Elladan sense it even in his sleep and carefully move nearer to his brother and wrap the blanket closer about Elrohir.

Elrond was about to close the door when Erestor walked quietly up to him. "So they are home are they?" His tone sounded quiet and thoughtful. He had thought they would make it. Elladan and Elrohir had a knack for getting into trouble and pulling themselves out of it again.

Elrond nodded, "they are. But Elrohir almost did not come back." He sighed and then said, "but now it is well, so do not trouble yourself Erestor."

Erestor smiled grimly and then said, "Lord Glorfindel is going to come and speak to you in a moment. He is helping the Elf Gilloth tend to his departed brother."

Elrond made no move to show he had heard Erestor speak. He knew what was said yet he was too deep in thought to respond. Erestor knew it and did not ask Elrond if he had heard.

Elrond knew he had to go and tend to Aragorn and see what trouble his foster son had managed to call down upon himself this time. Wearily he gently closed the door as well as turned and began down the hall another door to Estel's room.

Legolas sat on the edge of the bed and his eyes were wet with tears. Aragorn was awake now, but it was obvious he was in pain. He was having extreme difficult keeping his eyes open. The young human's breathing was erratic and the blonde Elf had his hand on Aragorn's chest, trying to will his heart to slow down through what little power Legolas had from being an Elf. However, Elrond could see the attempt was futile. "Legolas you know as well as I do that your power is not enough to help him, nevertheless, your steadfastness is more than praiseworthy."

Legolas nearly jumped at the voice and he looked into the serene eyes of the Lord of Rivendell. No, he took that back, it was not peace but weariness he saw in the raven-haired immortal's eyes. It was as though they were deep caverns of memories that went farther back than anyone could understand. He had seen much war and much pain and turmoil in his time. He had seen enough that he did not care to see anymore Elves against Elves. Especially Elves returning from his past. It was like being haunted by a past he thought he had left behind. Had he been a lesser Elf he might not have been able to bear it. Yet here was his children and their friends who were like sons to him having to brace themselves against hatred generations old.

"My Lord Elrond you know what transpired to cause him to be brought here thus?" asked the prince with a darkening frown.

"I know he was caught in the collapse of a cave once inhabited by orcs," Elrond told him sadly. He tenderly took and removed Thranduil's son's hand from Aragorn's slowly rising chest.

Legolas looked at his boots and wriggled his toes inside them oddly. How could he explain to Aragorn's father that it was his fault the human had been captured in the first place? 'Well,' he thought with a dark inward grin at his own cowardice, "starting to say anything might not be bad idea. Lord Elrond isn't going to bite my head off, though from the look of his glare (not being helped by his eyebrows) it may seem like he was about to.'

He looked at the Lord of Rivendell and his blue eyes nearly went wet and then they went cold with anger, anger directed at himself. "We went to look for Ancú around the middle of the night. We ran into Gilloth and his regiment I suppose. The short of it is I was drugged and made immobile and Aragorn resisted, but his arm was broken, or maybe no more than hairline fracture." Legolas took a moment to breathe and had just realized he had been speaking with one breath to go on. "He was with Ancú I believe, for he was captured as well, but not with us," added the blonde Elf quickly at a sharp glance from Elrond.

Elrond carefully, almost as though he was fearful, picked up his youngest son's broken arm in its sling that had mostly come loose from the cave in. He noticed also that the elbow was dislocated and then put back in. Ancú had to have don it, for from everything he had been told Legolas had not been with the prince. Elrond knew that he had to see Ancú and he found it odd that his Captain of the Guard had not reported to him yet for duty.

As Elrond looked Estel over he found that blood was on the sheets in odd lines that had fanned and spread as though the man had been shifted from a position. He looked at Legolas and the prince said nothing but diverted his eyes to the now twitching form of his friend. Aragorn was waking.

Elrond spoke softly and soothingly, "easy my son. You are safe and all is well. Your brothers rest in Elrohir's room." He knew he would have to mention the twins or the dark-haired ranger would never settle into regular sleep. Then he knew the human would be wondering about Legolas next.

The prince was a step ahead and said in a voice that was nearly softer than Elrond's, "I am right here Estel. Go to sleep now."

Aragorn struggled to open his eyes and they focused in on Elrond. "Ada? Is this a dream?" he asked quietly.

"No my child. You are home ion-nin," told Elrond with a smile that showed his joy that it was not a dream. He watched as the young man on the bed closed his gray orbs with fatigue. The Lord of Rivendell held his breath for a moment before uttering, "there is always hope."

Legolas smiled around a yawn and Elrond looked at him closely. It made the prince uncomfortable and he fiddled with a rent in his pant leg uneasily. The raven-haired Elf-lord sighed and said, "Prince Legolas you need your sleep. What would your father say if I let you stay up in your weak and weary state?" asked Elrond in a near complaining and yet pleading voice as he knew the argument that was coming.

Legolas sighed and said with a sloppy grin that was hardly befitting of a prince of Elves, "he would that he commends your effort and that you should have known it would be fruitless."

Elrond shook his head and said, "Legolas, get some sleep now." He hated having to be firm with the prince but the blonde Elf really could use some down time.

He watched out of the corner of his eyes as the prince rose and went to a stuffed chair in the corner of the room that was large and comfortable looking. The younger Elf eased himself down into it and wriggled down so his feet and long legs were out in front, crossed comfortably and his head was against the back. Then he wearily shut his eyes. Even in his sleep he mumbled, "please wake me when he gains consciousness Lord Elrond."

Elrond smiled and said with a drone to his voice, "that I will Legolas."

Tenderly Elrond rolled Aragorn over onto his stomach so that he could get a look at the Human's back. Rocks, jagged and twisted had fallen and marred the flesh. Blood was coating the young man's tunic back. This was going to be a disaster to clean up.

Elrond was not really sure where to start. Carefully he took and began to remove the tattered clothing from Aragorn's back.

The gashes were deep and numerous. He was surprised that the young man had not been paralyzed. Wouldn't he have had the sense to get out of the cave before this? Something had to have held him back. Legolas had not been with him there, or so he had vaguely gathered.

Elrond sighed and was about to call for Glorfindel but upon turning around he saw Ancú standing in the doorway, holding an ointment. The young Elf came and handed it to the elder Elf with a slight bow. Elrond did not waste his time on the formalities, but took an popped the lid off the salve. Ancú looked on grimly.

The young Elf felt he was going to be sick and really fast. This was his fault.

Then Elrond asked the dreaded question, "how was it all of this happened to my foster child?"

Ancú felt the color drain from his face and he leaned heavily on a chair. The immortal began to tremble as he said, "I did it." Ancú collapsed on the ground and he shivered as he sobbed. "It was my fault. Honestly Lord Elrond I didn't mean to. I was going to be killed and he saved me...it was an accident." Here he was, the Captain of the Guard and yet he had not prevented his lord's son's injury. Why?

Elrond narrowed his eyes in confusion as he rubbed the salve on the cuts. Then, he gave the younger Elf a sharp glare. "Pull yourself together Ancú! What happened?"

Ancú opened his mouth to speak, but no words came forth. He moved his mouth and no sound was on his lips. Elrond sharpened his gaze and Ancú stood up slowly. If Elrond knew he had been wounded and was hardly able to breathe still at times then he would try and heal him if he didn't wish to kill him first. As Ancú held back a sob, more blood came out on his lips. He hastily wiped it away.

However Elrond noticed. He softened his eyes and said gently, " Ancú I understand, now let me see your injury." Internal bleeding was most often deadly.

Ancú stood on a pair of shaky legs. He could not let his lord see the wound. If he did he would never be able to protect, nay, save Rivendell. If he died afterwards, that was fine. He would have saved the lives of countless other Elves of his guards that depended on his judgement. "I will be fine my lord. It is nothing."

Elrond's gaze hardened again and he said firmly, "you are bleeding from the mouth Ancú, I command you to let me see it!"

Ancú began to go backwards to the door and Elrond rose up from where he had been sitting on the edge of Aragorn's bedside. The younger Elf stammered, "I have to go Lord Elrond, I will find you when all of this is over."

Elrond looked at the other Elf and he said, " Ancú I only want to help you!"

But Ancú was gone.

Elrond sat back down and he rubbed his temples in weariness. Young Elves were such a nuisance at times. They were so assured of themselves. He took some more salve and spread it on the wounds. It was a cleaning solution, meant to sterilize the wounds and then be wiped clean of them.

He was nearly finished applying the poultice when he heard a voice from the door say, "I brought you bandages and water along with clean clothes Elrond."

The Lord of Rivendell raised his head and looked to see Erestor standing in the doorway. The counselor gave a wry smile and Elrond spoke grimly, "how did you know I was in need of them?"

Erestor shook his head and spoke softly, "we are talking about Estel and Legolas, bad enough on their own, then you add the twins, more trouble. But after that you throw in a few more like Glorfindel and Ancú and well, you are asking for so much more than a cataclysm of huge dimension!" He went to the bedside and asked so softly that it was barely picked up, "he is bad, isn't he?"

Setting the bandages on a bare spot on the bed he sighed watched as Elrond said nothing but gathered a cloth in to his hand and dipped it into the warm water. However, as the Elf-lord began to wring the cloth out, he said, "Estel is better off than you think, but I have to get the dirt out of these, otherwise he may get worse."

Erestor nodded and aid, "Glorfindel told me to tell you he is in with the twins at this very moment. He will wait for you in there since he supposes you are going to go and check up on them in a moment." Elrond nodded and Erestor said, "I think I shall go and wait with him, for I too wish to speak with you."

Elrond suddenly remembered how Ancú had been hurt and Erestor had told him nothing of it and neither had Glorfindel though he was more than certain they had known. "I need to speak to you as well."

TBC...poor Aragorn! Not much angst, but that comes later and well, no more for now. Please review!

Kathleen LaCorneille: Thanks for the review! Yes! Elrohir lives and we are thrilled that you think Ancu is strong, but yes, major trouble ahead for them! LOL You are right there! And Estel will wake soon. Hehehehehehehe. Sleepy head! Hope your new job is going well and you are more than welcome for your response, we love your reviews.

elvengirl3737: thanks for the review! Glad you liked the dialog and yes! Elrohir lives!

Leela74: Thanks for the review! (blushes) that was so sweet. Attacked? Not exactly, but well..hope you like that part. Um...Yes! Elrohir does live! More ranger angst to come. And we think it is so cool you dedicated the story to us and actually think we are worthy.

Shadowed Flames: ROTFL! Hehehehe. Gilloth is cool? Okay...do you want us to pay for your therapy or something? LOL Actaully, he is kind of 'cool' in a way we guess. Anyway, cute response and Tin thinks you are hilarious! Thanks for the odd review! LOL

Mornflower: Glad you lied this chapter! And thanks for the review! One more thing...LEGOLAS IS OURS!

Sielge: Thanks for reviewing! Glad you like it!

Deana: Thanks for reviewing...Elrohir lives! Yay! We share your joy!

Beling: Glad you liked it and that your nail is okay. LOL Thanks for the review! Don't know how much romance there will be, but plenty of angst. Well..you will see...anyway...Ancu does take his job seriously...VERY seriously!

Thanks to all those who reviewed and we hope to hear from you again! Sorry if there were typo's but we had no time to edit!