Ducks various heavy flying objects.
I AM SO SORRY! Seriously, I KNOW I promised to update, but I have been up to my eyeballs in homework. I now officially hate year 10. And year 11 is bound to be worse!
So, to make up for my loooooong absence, I have posted 2 CHAPTERS! Yes indeedy!
Faerlain.
Rayame325 – Proud mothers. One of the best things in the world. Thanks for reviewing.
Kawaii ningen kitsune – Good! Thanks for reviewing.
Lindele – Teehee, I love springing surprises. Will she fade or will she live? Dunno yet! Lol. Thanks for reviewing.
Chapter 15: Return to Rivendell.
In Rivendell, everything was silent. No one was singing, no laughter rung through the valley. Even the horses in their stable were quiet, and the breeze that blew over the silent haven was cold and harsh. The river was the only thing that remained the same; rushing along as it always did, roaring and crashing down into the valley and out again.
In the healing room, Thrálindë still lay silently on her bed, Sinyë holding her hand. There were no signs of her waking up, and every day, she grew a little colder.
Torfithien was also still unconscious. But she was in a much better state than Thrálindë. Her breathing and pulse rate was back to normal. It was just a case of waiting for her to awaken.
"Any news from the scouts?" Elrond asked as he bathed Torfithien's forehead with a damp cloth, trying to keep her temperature normal.
Glorfindel shook his head. "No my Lord. They will most likely return with Legolas and his party."
"Hmm, true." He put the cloth back in the bowl and checked Torfithien's pulse again. "She's going to be fine," he told the golden-haired Lord. "As for Thrálind" He looked over to where Sinyë was still sitting with her.
"Are there any chances for her?" Glorfindel asked, coming to stand beside his Lord. "Anything anyone can do to help?"
"A few. But like I said before, we need Elrohir. Someone she holds dear to her heart, someone close to her. I know that Elrohir no longer returns her feelings, but it might just be enough."
"I hope so. I would hate to see another Elf be lost to the darkness through having their heart broken. I have seen it too many times before. It's not nice."
"No, it isn't," Elrond agreed. They left the room silently, leaving the door slightly ajar. Settling themselves down in Elrond's office, they continued to talk.
"Do you think a messenger will be sent back ahead of them?" Elrond asked.
Glorfindel shrugged. "Who knows? They may not have one to spare. I expect they need all the people they can get. As far as I can guess, they have a lot of injured. This is from what Rédethuil has told me. Their progress will be slow. It could take them up to a week to reach us."
"A week? Just to travel that short distance?"
He nodded. "Aye, probably. When you think about it logically. We sent about forty Elves with Celebrían and your children. Legolas too, would have had an escort of roughly that size. Some Mirkwood Elves would have returned when the groups met. In the end, roundabout thirty Elves would be coming to Rivendell. When your wife's party was attacked, the groups joined again, creating a mass of Elves totalling nearly one hundred. Say a quarter of those were killed. That leaves roughly sixty Elves. When our scouts joined them, the total would be over one hundred. The dead have been buried. That means the wounded can be carried by the healthy. We should be expecting a group of just over one hundred Elves to arrive in the next week or so. It will take them a long time, because of the numbers, and the injured. And lots will have lost horses, so they can only go at a trot at the fastest."
Elrond let this knowledge sink in. "Yes," he murmured, nodding his head. "That is most likely very true. A lot of maths in there Glorfindel."
"Sorry."
Elrond smiled. "Well, we've got the room. Just about. It's just the amount of injured we are going to acquire. Do we have enough healers?"
"I should think so. I'll get a message out, announcing that all healers available are to help when they arrive. We'll get extra stocks of herbs and bandages in. Start making more sleeping draughts, and so on. We're going to have to move Torfithien back into her own room. We need her bed. As for Thrálindë…I'll leave that decision up to you."
"Ok, you get the message out about the healers. I'll get the ones we have in already making more sleeping draughts and healing potions. If we start now, we should be ready in time for when they arrive."
They set to work immediately. Elves flocked to the main House, willing to offer their services if they were required. Jobs were fund for everyone, whether it be collecting herbs for the healers, or creating more space in the House to accommodate the Elves who were on their way.
Temporary stables were built to house the additional horses that would be coming. More straw and hay was brought in, as well as food and water. The kitchens were full to the brim with extra supplies of food and drink, and every room was prepared to house someone.
Rivendell was ready.
"Just a little further Amil. Then we're home. Hold on Amil, hold on."
Elladan kept whispering fervently to his unconscious mother, trying desperately to bring her back to them. But she was completely unresponsive.
"Just keep trying Dan," Legolas told him. "She may be able to hear you, you never know."
"Yeah, maybe." He looked to the road ahead. "Come on, we're almost there. There's the Arch."
Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas had ridden on ahead to Rivendell to get Celebrían there quicker. Celeblaith was riding with Dolenmíl, who had been left in charge along with Arwen and the Captain.
The three Princes charged on, drawing ever nearer to their destination…
"Tíre, look."
The Elf looked in the direction his friend was pointing. In the distance, were three riders, tearing towards Rivendell as fast their horses could go.
"That is Prince Legolas!" Tíre exclaimed, seeing the golden-haired Prince among them. "And they must be Prince Elladan and Prince Elrohir! Inform Lord Elrond, quickly!"
Elrond was waiting in the courtyard, wringing his hands, when Legolas and the twins bounded in under the Arch. His face paled when he saw the unconscious form of his wife, slumped in Elladan's' arms.
"Adar!" Elrohir yelled. "Quick, we need to get her to a healing room."
Elrond snapped back to reality at the sound of his youngest sons' desperate voice. He hurried over and took Celebrían from Elladan. The Princes dismounted and let their weary horses be led into the stables. They followed Elrond up the steps into the House.
Elrond hurried along the corridor as fast as he could. Glorfindel and Erestor were waiting in the healing block, armed with herbs and bandages.
He laid his wife gently down upon the bed and started inspecting her wounds. "Go and get cleaned up you three," he told his sons and Legolas.
They started to protest, but he held up a hand for silence. "Please," he asked in a softer voice. "I need complete concentration. I know you want to help, but you have done enough by getting her back here. Go. I cannot have you ill as well." They nodded and left, giving Celebrían a last glance as they went.
Closing the door behind him, Legolas looked at his two dearest friends. They were clearly exhausted, and had several injuries of their own. Their faces were pale and drawn, and they looked just about ready to collapse.
"Come on you two," he said gently, standing in between them and slipping an arm round each shoulder. "I can't remember where to go."
"You should do," Elladan scolded him as they walked along the corridor. "You've been here often enough."
"I have a bad memory."
"Whatever," Elrohir scoffed, raising an eyebrow. "You have the best memory out of all three of us."
"I dread to think how bad yours are then. You must suffer from extremely terrible short term memory loss."
They punched him playfully on the arms. "Shut up blondie," Elladan told him. "Let's just get cleaned up. I don't think I've had a bath for almost two weeks!"
"Urgh!"
They laughed and made their way towards their rooms, which had private bathrooms.
The next day, Dolenmíl arrived, leading the tired Elves in under the Arch. Everyone in Rivendell was there ready to greet them and help them inside. The seriously injured were lifted down off their horses and taken straight to the rooms that had been set aside for haling purposes. All the others who were not so badly hurt helped the Rivendell Elves, taking the injured inside and stabling the horses.
Legolas saw them arrive and came out to find Dolenmíl. She was helping an Elf with a large bandage round his head down off a horse. He hurried over. "Dolenmíl."
She turned to him as she handed the patient over to a Rivendell Elf. "Legolas! You made it. Oh thank goodness!" They embraced.
"Where is Celeblaith?" he asked.
"Over there, helping to stable the horses. She's fine, don't worry. How are you?"
"Much better thanks. Lady Celebrían is inside, being treated by Lord Elrond. We haven't seen him or Lord Glorfindel since yesterday when we got here. Lord Erestor has been in and out, but he hasn't told us anything. As far as we know, she is still unconscious."
"Where is Elrohir?"
"Right here!" Dolenmíl suddenly found herself lifted into the air and kissed full on the lips.
Legolas and Elladan laughed, but Legolas couldn't help but feel a slight stab of resentment towards his friend at that moment. His mind drifted back to when he had kissed Dolenmíl before, over 500 years ago just after they had left the Pass on their way to Rivendell…
But he shook himself away from those thoughts. There were people here who needed helping, and they were doing no good by just standing around.
"Elrohir, you take care of Dolenmíl," he told him, smiling. "Me and Elladan will carry on from here."
Elrohir nodded and led her inside. Elladan went in search of his sister, and Legolas in search of his own. He found her outside the makeshift stables, coaxing a distressed mare inside. The horse was frightened, rearing up on her hind legs, her eyes rolling back into her head.
He hurried over and took the reins from Celeblaith. His sister was not strong enough. Whispering soft Elvish, he placed a soothing hand on her neck. People started staring as he calmed the mare down, and continued to whisper. She snorted and shook her head. He stroked her face, still whispering in her ear. As he talked, he untied the bridle and took the reins off. The saddle was removed, and he led her into the stables into a free pen.
"Well done Greenleaf," he heard behind him. He turned to smile at his sister.
"You ought to be more careful," he told her, still stroking the horse. "She's very powerful. She could so easily have kicked you."
"But she didn't because you rescued me," she answered, smiling back.
He sighed, but couldn't help grinning. "I know. I was there this time, but next time, you might not be so lucky." He whispered something final to the mare, and left her. He crinkled his nose at the state of Celeblaith. "Cel, you stink."
"Thanks!"
He laughed. "Come on, I'll take you inside so you can have a bath." He took her hand and led her out of the stables into the House.
"How does Lady Celebrían fare?" she asked.
"I cannot say," he answered solemnly. "We have not seen her, Lord Elrond, or Lord Glorfindel since yesterday when we arrived. And Lord Erestor has not told us anything."
She sighed. "It isn't fair. All this hatred among the people of Middle-Earth. Why can't everyone just live in peace?"
"You know why. It was all because of the Dark One."
"But why did he turn to darkness? Light is so much better. You can see what you're doing."
He laughed at her last comment. "No one really knows. Anyway, come on, let's you find a room."
They walked through the hallways, all packed with Elves. They finally came to a free room, and Legolas took his sister in. He locked the door and went through the bathroom. "Here," he called, chucking a towel through. "I'll fill the tub for you."
"Thanks Legs." She got out of her filthy travelling clothes and wrapped the huge fluffy towel around herself. She waited on the end of the bed for her brother to finish filling the tub, and smiled at him when he came back out.
"There, all done," he told her. "Go and gave a wash. Everything you need is in there. I'll take these clothes to get cleaned up, and bring you some more. Take as long as you like."
"Ok, thank you." She stretched up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. "I'll see you later."
He kissed her back. "Yes, see you in a bit." He left her to rest.
Sinking down into the lovely warm water, Celeblaith let her tired muscles relax. She was stiff and aching from all the hard riding, and her cuts were stinging. Her wrist was still throbbing, and the deep cut on her collarbone was smarting. She gently washed it, getting all the dirt out.
She was in there for at least half an hour. Only when she felt she was clean enough, and the water around her had turned a murky colour did she get out. She wrapped herself back in the huge towel, and padded through to her room.
Legolas was stood out on the balcony, looking out over Rivendell. "Your clothes are on the bed," he told her without turning round.
"Thanks." She took them back into the bathroom to get changed.
She emerged a few minutes later, clean, and relaxed. He smiled at her. "Better?"
"Much more so." She went to stand next to him and slipped her arm through his. They watched the people down below, still hurrying around, getting everything sorted. "Its chaos," she whispered."Not quite," he replied, looking at her. "Just a bit…mad."
"Chaotic."
"Ok, ok, you win."
She grinned. "How are the twins?"
"Fine. Worried sick about Lady Celebrían. Annoyed that they aren't allowed in to see her. Thankful that they found her, hopefully in time. A mixture of emotions. They got cleaned up last night, and any wounds sorted out, as did I."
"Do you reckon she'll be ok?"
He sighed. "I don't know Cel. I really don't. The wound is poisoned, just like Dolenmíl said. Hopefully Lord Elrond will heal her in time, but she has been through a lot. She may decide to leave these shores."
"But she wouldn't leave her family, surely?"
He shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. It depends on how she feels about Middle-Earth now. We don't know for sure what tortures she went through, but they may have helped her to make the decision to leave Middle-Earth forever. Her heart will no longer remain in Rivendell. It needs to be healed, and the only place for that to happen is in Valinor."
"But…Arwen, and the twins…they will be heartbroken to lose their mother after rescuing her! And Lord Elrond…"
"I know Cel, I know, but there is nothing we can do. As soon as all this is sorted, and we know how she is going to be, we're going home."
"What!"
"We have to. Adar doesn't know this has happened yet. I don't think. If he finds out through someone else, he will be worried sick about us. We have to go home and reassure him that we are alright."
"Send him a letter.""I'm going to tonight. I'll ask Elladan if I can use Vaiva."
She sighed. "Why does something bad happen every time we try and visit our friends?"
He laughed softly. "Haven't got a clue. Whenever I come to Rivendell, something happens to the twins or me. It must be Fate."
"Fate has a cruel and twisted mind."
"Don't you think I knew that already?"
"Hmm." She yawned and snuggled closer to her brother.
He looked down at her. "Come on you, get some sleep."
She murmured a reply, but didn't budge.
He sighed, and picked her up. She started to protest, but gave up when he plonked her down on the rather comfortable bed. She closed her eyes and curled up.
"You haven't brushed your hair," he whispered, sitting beside her and stroking a stray piece away out of her face. "It'll be knotty later."
She was asleep.
He smiled at her and kissed her forehead. He lay down next to her and held her against him protectively. He too, gradually fell asleep.
Now onto chapter 16!
Faerlain.