From the Ashes by Jessie Syring

Disclaimer: All characters belong to the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien. I hope I insult no one by playing with his characters.

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Chapter Seven

Erestor sat in the dark room beside Elrond's bed, enjoying the solitude in spite of his worries. The council knew where to find him if they needed him, but he had no intention of leaving now. In spite of the healers' reassurances, Erestor needed to know for himself that the lord of Imladris would be well.

A quiet knock sounded on the door. Erestor moved quickly to answer it and saw the captain of the guard, a stern-faced Sindarin Elf. Glancing over his shoulder one last time, Erestor stepped into the hall. He frowned as he saw Elrond's sons as well but chose to let it go---the twins were nearly adults and they both had swords strapped on their hips. Erestor did not have to look to know these were no training blades.

"How is Adar?" asked Elrohir, large grey eyes looking at Erestor.

He put a reassuring hand on each youth's shoulder. "He is resting. He will not have use of his arm for a while but Hithlain says it will heal fully. You both should be resting as well."

"We were out with the guards," said Elladan.

"Indeed? What did you find?" Though he looked at the twins, he asked the question of the captain of the guards.

"There was only the one wolf, Lord Erestor. We followed its tracks nearly two miles upstream. It crossed the river there and made its way past the guards. We are searching for others, but---"

"The wolf crossed the river?" Erestor asked in disbelief. "Why would it come here? There is easier hunting on the other side and we would not bother it there."

The captain glanced at Elladan and Elrohir but said nothing. Erestor staggered back as all the information clicked in place. The savageness of the wolf's attack. The strange glow in its eyes. That it had attacked only Elrond when surely it had seen others, stopping its assault only when attacked by Glorfindel. And it had turned on the twins---Elrond's heirs---before Glorfindel managed to slay it.

"A werewolf?" he ventured, the very thought shocking him.

"I do not know, my lord. But its actions were not natural. It waited in the bushes some time before it attacked."

"Indeed," said a new voice. Elrond stood in the doorway. He looked very pale against the dark blue robe he had put on. "It was enspelled and sent here with a purpose. To kill me."

Erestor frowned. "You should not be out of bed," he said sternly.

"I will return to my bed soon enough." Elrond touched each of his sons on the shoulder and smiled softly, a gesture that seemed to comfort them. "There are dark forces stirring and they would have me removed as a threat. But the danger is gone now."

"It should not have been there to begin with."

"The important thing is that it is dead and we now know to be alert to the possibility they will try again." Elrond closed his eyes and swayed slightly.

Erestor immediately caught him under the arm. "Let us get you back to bed."

Elrond did not protest as Erestor and the twins helped him back to his room and tucked him in. By the time the blankets were settled and the pillows fluffed to Elrohir's satisfaction, he had regained a bit of color, although he held his shoulder carefully. Erestor splashed water into a goblet and opened a packet of powder.

"Just the water for now, Erestor," said Elrond. "How is Glorfindel? Was he badly injured?"

Erestor gave Elrond the goblet. "In a healing sleep," he said. "He saved you and the twins."

"He jumped right on the wolf, Ada," said Elladan. "It nearly got away before he stabbed it."

"My house owes him much this day. How serious are his injuries?"

"His left arm was badly bitten several times---he will not be able to use it for a while." Erestor closed his eyes, remembering the sight of those ghastly wounds. "And he took a bite to the back of one leg."

Elrond closed his eyes. "Thank the Valar it was not worse. All around."

"We need to discuss this attack, Elrond. Our border defenses may no longer be effective."

"Later, Erestor. For now, I simply wish to be with my sons."

Erestor accepted the implied dismissal. Elrohir and Elladan were seated on the edge of the bed, watching their father. Smiling, Erestor slipped into the hall and closed the door. He could rest now as well.

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Voices. So faint as to seem far away. Then something cool was pressed against his forehead. Glorfindel tried to push it away and groaned as hot knives of pain sliced through his arm from wrist to shoulder before settling into his forearm as a throbbing ache. He became aware of a concerned-looking Erestor looking down at him and looked around.

"I suppose Mandos does not want me back," he groaned. "Last time, it did not hurt so badly."

Erestor's expression twisted into a combination of laughter and worry. "There is a bit of a difference between having been mauled by a wolf and going toe-to-toe with a Balrog."

"Toe-to-hoof," corrected Glorfindel. He took a few deep breaths and stared out the window at the sunshine. "What did they give me?"

Erestor's smile grew. "A concoction of Elrond's. He says it would knock out a Dwarf."

"It would have to---it is foul!"

"They did not want you fighting while they sewed you back together. And you needed the rest."

"I would rather have gotten drunk. How's Elrond?"

"Eating breakfast in the hall and issuing orders to reinforce the borders. The healers would rather see him abed for another few days, but he has agreed to go slowly."

Glorfindel turned his blue eyes on Erestor again. "Does he know that was no ordinary wolf?"

"He suspects it was a werewolf, though few have been seen since the First Age."

Glorfindel's face turned grave. "A servant of Morgoth. But Angband and its lands were destroyed. Tol-en-Gaurhoth is gone as well, is it not?"

"And Morgoth has been banished, but darkness remains. His general has walked this world."

"Gorthaur?"

"Yes. To us, he is Sauron the Deceiver." Erestor turned away for a few moments. Ignoring his own pains, Glorfindel pushed himself awkwardly into a sitting position. Erestor turned back to him and pushed pillows behind his back so he could lean against them. "It...is not easy to talk about," he said. "Sauron walked this world in disguise, gaining trust and making friends. So he forged the rings of power. Nine rings for Men. Seven for the Dwarves. Celebrimbor made three rings for the Elves---Sauron had no hand in their forging. He crafted a master ring in secret, one which could control all others."

"Including the Elven rings?"

Erestor sat on the edge of the bed, careful not to jar Glorfindel's injuries. "The rings were hidden from him. But Sauron's desire for power drove him. He made war to take the rings from us, for with them he can influence the will of the Elves."

"Tell me."

Erestor stared at his hands. "The Enemy had taken over most of the lands, killing and corrupting," he said. "His war on the lands of Eregion led to its destruction and the Change of the World. Very few of us survived his assault. Both of my parents were slain. Gil-Galad sent Elrond with all the survivors into hiding and we founded Imladris here, in secret. But the attacks continued and soon only a few remained to fight."

Glorfindel placed a hand on his shoulder, giving his new friend silent strength as he heard the catch in Erestor's voice. He did not know the places of which Erestor spoke save what he had heard in songs but had too much honor to interrupt a tale already too difficult to tell. Erestor continued.

"Something had to be done to stop Sauron. Great care was taken to bring the armies together in secret---the Elves of Rivendell and the Grey Havens, the Dwarves of Khazad-dum, and the Men of Gondor. We trained in secret. Made plans and remade them. Finally, we marched on Barad-dur. Gil-Galad, the High King led us. Elrond was his herald. I was young, but in the service of Elrond as a scribe. The Men followed Elendil, a Numenoran king. We laid siege to the black fortress and fought on the slopes of Mount Doom itself. The Enemy emerged from his tower, wearing the ring. He laid hold of Gil-Galad and he burst into flame." Erestor failed to notice Glorfindel recoil in horror as he continued. "Naught survived but his crown and spear. But for a lucky blow, we all would have died that day. But Isildur of Gondor cut the ring from Sauron's hand."

"Then the war was won?" prompted Glorfindel.

"No. Isildur did not have the strength to destroy the one ring. It has been lost many years. It is said Sauron's minions hunt it still. And the Elven rings."

Glorfindel's eyes widened. "Elrond has one of the rings."

"Yes. He has Vilya, the Ring of Air. Gil-Galad gave it to him before the final battle. I think he knew he was going to die." Erestor swallowed hard. "We have kept it hidden all these years. But we cannot last if the Dark Lord learns finds the master ring."

Glorfindel lowered his head. "This must be the reason I was sent back," he said. "To help protect the heirs of Eärendil from the new darkness."

"Indeed," said Elrond. The younger Elves looked up to see him standing quietly in the door. "As your fight with the Balrog saved the life of my father, you seem destined to serve me in the same manner."

Glorfindel felt heat rising to his cheeks. "A poor protector I am," he said, looking at his arm, "when one scrawny wolf banishes me to a sickbed."

Elrond raised one eyebrow. "Armed with a training sword and a dagger? You did well against a werewolf. I think I would be hard-pressed to find a better warrior to guard my household."

Glorfindel sat a little straighter. "Are you offering me that position?

"Would you accept it, Glorfindel of Gondolin?"

"No."

Erestor looked startled at that firm answer. Elrond frowned slightly.

"I am no longer Glorfindel of Gondolin," Glorfindel said, a deep sadness in his voice. "My family and my house died with the city more years ago than I can count. I am now Glorfindel of Rivendell." He took a deep breath as he considered his answer. "And I accept your offer."

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