Chapter Sixteen In the Ruins There is Hope

He sat on the boulder pondering the problem at hand. Somehow, things were not going according to plan and caused the building process to halt. Shaking his head, he sighed. His children were healing with all speed, but he was still worried about his youngest who still remained unconscious. Standing, he wandered over to the small beds where his sons were. Elladan was currently sitting up drinking water to quench his thirst. His eyes were red, and swollen from lack of proper sleep.

The droughts Elrond had given him were no longer helping to ease the pain, and he had to be careful now with how much he administered, or he would have a problem of weaning his son off the pain killers. The other problem was, Elladan was not sleeping anymore with their aid, only keeping him awake. The black circles under Elladan's eyes were prominent now, giving his eyes a larger appearance then normal.

Elrohir remained unconscious, tossing fitfully in his unnatural sleep, causing more pain then the child should be allowed to tolerate. Even the herbs and healing aids, Elrond gave Elrohir were no longer helping, but also creating more of a problem. They were preventing Elrohir's natural healing ability to fully restore itself, causing the boys wounds to become irritated and infected.

Elrond placed his hand on Elladan's back, and rubbed it gently. Elladan turned and attempted a smile, which Elrond noticed was forced. Nodding his head, Elrond helped ease Elladan onto the bedroll again, and sighed again.

"Ada?" Elladan whispered hoarsely.

Elrond looked down at his son, and smiled lightly. "Yes Elladan?"

"Ro?"

'Of course.' Elrond thought. 'He would be concerned about his brother above his own pain.' Elrond smile broadened. "Rest, Elrohir will be fine."

Elladan shook his head. "Not enough."

Elrond felt his forehead crease. "What isn't enough?"

Elladan struggled for words. "He hurts."

Elrond nodded sadly. "I know, but Elladan, he cannot have anymore herbs to help him."

Elladan nodded, and tears came to his eyes. His whispered words fell on deaf ears. "I hurt too."

Elrond turned feeling a hand on his shoulder. "Sîralda." He nodded in greeting.

"How are they?" The healer asked smiling.

Elrond shook his head waving his hand for Sîralda to follow. Gripping the healers arm he pulled him in close. "Is there nothing more we can do for Elrohir?"

Sîralda glanced over at the twins and frowned. Shaking his head, he sighed. "Elrond, I would love to give them both more herbs, but I fear Elrohir would not be able to handle the potency in his current condition. When he wakes, then I will be able to discern his condition more thoroughly. Right now, we must take comfort. His healing ability has kicked in, not as strongly as I would like, but it is there. I cannot give him more until I know how serious his head wound is." Sîralda paused, looking at Elrond hard. "Elladan has already had more then he can take. If he is given more he will rely on it rather then his own healing abilities. We both have faced war and wounds, you know there is only so much we can do."

Elrond nodded understanding fully. He felt torn. His sons injuries caused him more pain then his own. Sighing, he raised his blue eyes to Sîralda's again. "I know, I only wish them to sleep in comfort. Elrohir has been tossing and turning since his legs were set."

"Well, we know he is healing, and a certain amount of pain reminds one that he or she is still alive. Go rest, Elrond. You look terrible."

Elrond twisted his lips in a tight smile. "You haven't rested in over a week, when will you sleep?"

"I will sleep when I am done with my tasks here, I am still able to function fully. Rest Elrond, that is not a request." Sîralda commanded pointing to a bedroll.

Elrond glared at the healer, but nodded and walked away.

Sîralda turned and looked over the mass amounts of beds scattered throughout the courtyard. He caught sight of Thranduil sitting under a tree and went to join him.

Thranduil nodded in the healers direction waving him to sit, and Sîralda complied.

"I am glad you have some persuasion here." Thranduil smiled.

Sîralda nodded, looking over the healing grounds. "For the moment. Elrond does not like being told what to do. I seem to remember another who dislikes it almost as much as he does."

Thranduil chuckled. "I think you like it more then you let on." The king gripped his friends shoulder. "I trust you, and your opinions, therefore I am only mentioning this to you before someone else does. You indeed have not rested since your arrival, it has been twelve days." Thranduil looked at the healer hard. "I know your limitations, however if you do not rest soon, I will have to explain to your brother why you collapsed from exhaustion. I do not wish to explain myself to Galathil."

Sîralda chuckled. "Leave Galathil to me, if he gives you trouble, I will cuff his ears like I did when he was a naked insolent child. I will rest soon, Thranduil, you have my word."

The king nodded. "I will hold you to that. Galathil is like your mother, kind hearted, but skilled with a sharp bite, which I have yet to come into contact with. I would like to keep it that way."

Sîralda sighed. "Alright, I will take some rest now. Indeed I am weary, however if anything should happen, wake me immediately."

Thranduil nodded curtly. He watched his good friend lay on a bedroll and closed his eyes. The king chuckled. "Weary indeed, my friend. You are exhausted." Smiling to himself as he watched the healers breath even out into sleep, he caught sight of Galathil watching him intently. Raising an eyebrow, he watched Galathil struggle to sit up and slide off his bedroll. He waited patiently as Galathil limped over to him.

"You should be resting, lessons master." Thranduil scolded.

Galathil sat beside him silently for a moment, allowing his eyes to linger on his brothers sleeping body, before turning his eyes to the king. "I have rested enough. Whatever you said to make him rest, you have my thanks."

Thranduil remained silent.

"How are the others?" Galathil asked softly.

Thranduil raised an eyebrow. "They are healing, Galathil. Resting and listening to the healers words for remaining on their bedrolls."

Galathil nodded, ignoring the point Thranduil threw at him. "How has Sîralda taken to his new home?"

The king smiled. "Sîralda has the respect of the elves. He has made himself at home in Mirkwood. You miss him don't you?"

"Are you kidding? Gets him out of my hair being in your realm." Galathil grinned.

"Who are you trying to fool, young one? We have company." Thranduil nodded towards two other elves making their way over to them.

Galathil grinned seeing Figwit and Erestor in their usual debate, and shook his head. "You two are worse then siblings!"

Figwit flashed a bright smile at him sitting down on the grass. Erestor narrowed his eyes. "Funny."

"Quite." Thranduil leaned back on the rock, enjoying the bright sunshine. He caught sight of movement out of the corner of his eye and he focused on the squinting eyes of Sîralda watching them in annoyance. "Sleep healer!" Thranduil commanded. "They are fine."

They chuckled hearing the irritated growl of the healer as he rolled over on his bedroll. Thranduil caught a brief curse before silence. Galathil shrugged laughing. "He will not sleep. He will lay there and listen because he knows we are talking about him now."

There was another hiss of curses from the healers bed.

Galathil laughed brightly. "He is such a nuisance." The lessons master missed the wad of gauze that flew at him hitting him squarely on the forehead. Gaping in stunned surprise, he sat there and stared at the gauze curiously.

Galathil heard a snort from the bedroll and closed his mouth. He picked up the gauze and chucked it back at his brother.

Thranduil rolled his eyes. "Here we go." He sighed. Sîralda sat up and glared at his brother. Turning his gaze onto the king he smiled sweetly. "For one who told me to sleep, it has been definitely a challenge to attempt such a feat. If you wish for me to rest, them please allow me to do so, ere I go back to work." Flopping down on his roll again, he threw the gauze at the king. Hitting the king on the chest, he rolled over silently laughing at the stunned expression that crossed his features.

"Oh, yes. Indeed." Thranduil grinned mischievously. Placing his finger to his lips, the king of Mirkwood stood up and walked over to the healer, picking up a bucket of water on his way.

Galathil placed his hand over his mouth to cover his laughter. Thranduil stood directly above Sîralda, and poured the water onto his unsuspecting body. The healer jumped up in surprise and glanced at the king in shock. With a growl, Sîralda tackled the king, and both began a game of wits.

Galathil roared with laughter, as Figwit and Erestor stared at the two elves wrestling on the ground. Figwit turned his blue eyes to the lessons master and smiled. "This was your doing, you know that right?"

Galathil howled harder. "I believe I need to find a place to hide for a few days." He stood quickly. "If you'll excise me." Glancing at the king and his brother on the ground, he turned and limped off towards the stables, hoping there was something still intact to hide in.

Erestor shook his head watching the lessons master flee. "Do you think he will find somewhere to hide?"

Figwit pursed his lips thinking. Smiling quickly he shook his head, and winked. Standing, Figwit silently began his pursuit of the lessons master. Erestor groaned and also stood up, leaving the king and healer to their wrestling. "This is going to be a long day." Erestor sighed.

His eyelids felt really heavy. Almost as though there were weights attached to them preventing him from opening his eyes. Finally, Elrohir opened them and looked blurrily at the sky, and blinked rapidly trying to clear them. He felt instant pain in his head, and he whimpered. A cool hand touched his forehead and he heard a voice try and talk to him. Frowning, he blinked again trying to focus on the dark form that leaned over him, his ears seemed to be stuffed with something preventing him from hearing anything.

Frightened, he whimpered again. Finally a soft voice along with the words penetrated his ears, and he felt comforted at once. "Easy, my son. Slowly."

Elrohir looked up at his father and tried to smile. His lips hurt and he sniffed. He was lifted into a sitting position carefully, and he moaned against the tight feeling in his chest. Something cool touched his lips and slipped into his throat. He coughed as it went down. He found it hard to swallow, and more liquid dripped into his mouth easing the rawness.

He was placed back down and a cool cloth was applied onto his head. He tried to smile again, but instantly he frowned. Gasping, he tried to form words on his mouth, but nothing came out. Only a harsh sound resonated through his brain and he winced.

"Easy Elrohir." A soft voice soothed. "Elladan is right beside you." He felt his hand being lifted into a larger one. It was placed down slowly, and it was gripped in a smaller hand. Instantly, Elrohir knew it was his brothers hand. Feeling at ease he felt his lips form a smile, and his eyes slipped closed.

Elladan grinned widely, as his brothers hand tightened weakly against his. "Is he alright now ada?"

Elrond smiled and nodded slowly. "He needs a lot of rest, but now that he has awakened, it will make things easier. Go back to sleep Elladan."