Chapter Six Despair and Hopelessness

Celanos watched helplessly as the injured child, by the fire, tossed and turned his head in agony. The injuries he sustained were serious, and the eldar debated silently to himself whether to go to Rivendell or protect the children in the outer borders of the elven city. His heart was pounding hard at the thought of the child dying in his care, but also of Lord Elrond who would be devastated at the loss of one of his children. Clearing his throat uncomfortably, he glanced at his daughter. Knowing that his heart would break if she were to die, he knew the family of the child would never recover.

Celanos was not close with the lord or his family, but being a tanner of cloths he made many of the garments the lord's family wore. Rubbing his eyes wearily, he took a deep breath before calling his daughter over to him softly.

"Celoviel." He whispered.

His daughter rushed over to him and flung her arms around his neck.

"I have a hard decision to make. I need your help in this matter."

She pulled away and sat down in his lap. Her blue eyes searched his intently before nodding.

"Are you brave at heart, daughter?" He asked wrinkling his brow in concern.

"Aye, Ada." She smiled hesitantly. She gripped one of his hands in both of hers and squeezed tightly.

"This is my predicament." He paused before continuing in a strained voice filled with emotion. "Lord Elrond's son is injured, to save his life I need a healer. I have done all that I can. I have the important decision to either stay here and protect the two of you, and if I do, the child will pass undoubtedly into the halls of Mandos." He paused and carefully watched his daughter's features. She held a mask of understanding and pride. "The other option is, to travel alone to Rivendell, while you remain here with the boy. If this decision is made, you will be responsible for his safety. The skills you have learned in your lessons may be tried and tested if danger arrives."

She nodded listening to her father's words without missing the full meaning of his speech.

"What say you on this matter?"

She drew herself up and squared her shoulders. The choice was given to her, a hard choice to either be grown up enough to stay by herself, which she had never had to experience. Or to be the child she was and refuse her father to leave and save a life.

"How long do I have to think about this?" She asked softly.

Celanos winced briefly. "Not long, Lovie. I will give you until the sun reaches the top of that tree." He pointed to the tree directly above their camp indicating where the sun was, only inches from it. "Is that enough time?"

She smiled nodding. Celoviel stood up and walked to the riverside, where she began thinking.

Thranduil flinched at the wailing of the trees, as the ground shook beneath him. His party stopped startled glancing at each other in confusion. Galathil snarled loudly cursing the ground until it finally stopped its brief motion. "Will it ever stop!" He raged.

Thranduil looked at him, frowning. "Come, we must hurry." He bent over Galathil's litter and raised an eyebrow curiously. "Do you always curse so abruptly, young one?"

Galathil snorted. "Young? You are only a hundred fifty years older then myself, majesty."

Thranduil chuckled. "Ahh, but still older. My father used to discipline me when I cursed as you did."

"Aye, but my father cursed regularly, hence why I curse I suppose." Galathil grinned, winking.

Figwit shook his head. "It's a wonder the children you teach do not curse as you do."

"Quiet whelp." Galathil wrinkled his brow. A small smile twitched on his lips.

Thranduil lost this dignity and roared with laughter. "Oh how I missed Rivendell." He waved for the party to move on and kept chuckling as the two injured elves bickered like old wash maids.

They passed through the former welcoming circle and stopped glancing around them taking in the ruins that were once the grand houses of Rivendell. Taking a deep breath, Thranduil barked orders to his guards to find survivors. Placing the litters on the ground, the guards dispersed and began their searches in various places. Thranduil turned and glanced at the two elves and raised his eyebrow in mock humor.

"Do you suppose you two can keep away from each others throats while I join the search? Or must I stay here and supervise?"

Simultaneously, the elves grinned. "We will be fine, milord."

Scrutinizing them intently he nodded once and drifted off towards the house of Elrond. Glancing around, Thranduil stopped from time to time pushing over rocks and branches, looking for traces of life, and found none. Dread filled his heart at the loss of life he felt within Rivendell, but hope also gathered creating strength and determination. A small movement out of the corner of his eye caused him to glance up quickly. He could have sworn he saw movement in one of the windows that almost crumpled from the weight of the stone.

Calling out, he caught movement again. The shadow formed at the tattered window and glanced out. It was Lord Elrond's advisor. 'What is his name again?' Thranduil thought quickly. Dark hair hung wildly about the elf's shoulders.

"Majesty?" The figure called.

"Who have you found?" Thranduil called up still thinking rapidly for a name to give the elf.

"Lord Elrond's son, no sign of Elrond, and the healing chambers are gone. Have you herbs?"

Nodding, Thranduil called out to the young guard ten feet away from him. "Suiren."

The guard sprinted up to him. "Milord?"

"Do you still have that pouch of healing supplies?"

Suiren nodded quickly and pulled his bag from off his shoulders. Quickly digging through it he pulled the small leather pouch out and handed it to Thranduil. The king refused to take the pouch and pointed to the window. "You have skills for healing, I do not."

Nodding quickly, the young guard sprinted over rock and branches towards the broken window. Suiren called up and tossed the pouch through the window, jumping up after and catching the sill. Climbing into the window, he glanced around him shaking his head almost in defeat.

"Here, I need you to aid me." The dark haired elf whispered, placing the child on the floor. Suiren gasped when he caught sight of the bruises, heavily bandaged arm, and open wounds on the boy. Taking a deep breath, he quickly knelt beside the boy and placed his hand on the child's forehead. He focused his attention on the small wavering fae, and closed his eyes. Suiren heard a small gasp of surprise and the soft whispered words.

"You're a healer." The dark haired elf stated.

Opening his eyes, he shook his head slightly. "I have some healing abilities. I can help only, not fully heal his wounded fae."

Squinting his eyes in disbelief, the eldar elf nodded in agreement and watched silently as the younger elf concentrated his healing on Elladan.

Celoviel walked back over to her father feeling slightly afraid of her final decision. Climbing back into her father's lap she forced a small smile. "I have decided, ada." She whispered.

Celanos nodded, waiting patiently for her to admit her fears.

"I am afraid, that I cannot hide. But I will stay behind so you can get help." She breathed deeply as she said those words.

Celanos nodded rubbing her back and giving her a large encouraging hug. "You are indeed brave, Lovie. I know you are frightened. I am also, having to leave you here. But I will be quick. By dawn tomorrow I shall return."

She smiled and nodded. "If trouble comes, what will I use to protect us?"

Celanos drew out a small dagger and handed it to her. "Use this as you would your fists." He stood and carried her to his bag and placed her on the ground. Digging through it he pulled out a hand knuckler, and handed it to her as well. "This shall be useful as a part of your hand. Do you know how to use this?"

She glanced at it in awe, shaking her head no.

He knelt down beside her and placed it on her hand. Celanos told her to form a fist and the knuckler became a part of her fist, but a deadly one of sharp knives. Each one of her knuckles became a sharp object and she grinned at the lightweight. "Do you think you can use this?"

She nodded eagerly.

Smiling he ruffled her hair. "If the child becomes ill, give him some of that herbal tea I gave him earlier. You remember?"

Again Celoviel nodded. "I will be fine, ada. But please hurry."

Celanos took a deep breath and stood quickly. "Keep the fire low, if you get cold, wrap blankets around yourself and the boy." They walked to the boat and he climbed in. "If trouble finds you, and you are in dire need, connect your fae with mine, and I will sense it."

Pushing the boat away from the shore, Celanos kept his eyes on his daughter until he was around the bend, and he began rowing quickly towards Rivendell. He prayed to the Valar to keep his daughter safe while he was not around. Closing his eyes tightly he let a lone tear fall onto his cheek as he prayed for forgiveness for leaving his child alone. Silently, he hoped they would not hold it against him, leaving his daughter to possible danger to save the life of one child who was not his blood.

Celoviel turned away from the river after her father rounded the bend, and she rubbed her arms quickly, her eyes darting into the growing shadows around her. She shook her head hard, remembering to be brave and strong like her mother was, and she smiled as she walked back towards the almost dead fire. Pulling blankets out of their rolls she began setting up a sleeping area for herself and the boy.

As night approached so did the nighttime animals, and their calls for food and company. She curled herself up beside the boy and stayed awake as the hoots of owls and screeches of animals unknown to her called out. She hoped her father was true to his words and returned before dawn. Celoviel felt her eyes grow heavy and they slipped shut despite her effort to stay awake.

She did not notice beside her as the dark haired elfling took a shuddering breath, and sighed, the air leaving his lungs, and not drawing another breath to refill them.