Chapter Eleven Healing Skills: Forgotten Memories

Elrond drew in a deep breath to calm his racing heart. He had never thought he would see the spectacular sight of the Valar again. But before his eyes, lost in his son's dream state, there sat the Valar on a branch above his son's small forms. Elrond gulped, the sudden memory of his brother Elros before him. Shaking his head to dislodge the memories, he turned his attention to his son's once again. He regained his footing and pounded on the invisible barrier that prevented him to reach his children.

"It is too early." He shouted through the barricade. "It is not their time yet!"

Elrohir turned his head towards his father curiously. But remained seated with his brother engulfed in his embrace.

"Elrohir, Elladan!" He cried. "You must come here." Elrond felt panic rise in his chest, when his son's did not respond to his beckoning. Their eyes were locked on the still figure of the beautiful Valier. "Leave them alone." He called to the woman in the tree. "They are too young to know what choice to make. They have not even reached their majority!"

The Valier in the tree turned her head towards the elf lord and smiled. Elrond felt his heart freeze. A hand came down on his shoulder causing him to spin around startled. There stood Gandalf. Baffled, Elrond frowned.

"Fear not, Elrond, they are not amongst your son's dreams to seek a choice as of yet. They merely stand watch over your eldest. Your son's have much to do in their life, and your son is gravely injured."

Elrond felt his heart lighten with relief. "I do not understand why they have come to my son's dreams. Or for that matter, why Elladan has started his path so early in life. Can you answer these questions, Gandalf?"

The Maiar chuckled. "Nay, Elrond. I cannot answer these questions. One day you will foresee the future and things that you wish to know now, you will choose not to know later."

Elrond frowned causing his forehead to crease. "Stop speaking in riddles Mithrandir."

Gandalf smiled and shook his head. "In due time you will understand. The Valier only sit in watch over Elladan to ease his pain, and to calm his troubled mind. Much the same way they did with your aide."

"My aide? Who?"

"You know who. Elrond, some things are for us to know, others are for us to find out. Glorfindel once was troubled as your son is now."

Elrond looked down and thought briefly before he remembered the conversation they had had a few weeks prior. "His dreams you mean?"

Gandalf nodded. "His dreams and faint memories are those of his past. Your son's dreams are those of the future. But what they mean I do not know myself."

"Then-" Elrond felt his mouth go dry. He swallowed the lump that formed in his throat and attempted his question again. "Are you saying that Glorfindel is the same that fell at Gondolin?"

Gandalf nodded. "The Balrog slayer who lost his life."

"But how is that possible?" Elrond argued.

"The Valar decided his task in life was not complete, I suppose." The Maiar shrugged. "I do not know myself, perhaps there is something more he needs to complete before they welcome him to the Halls of Mandos."

Elrond groaned. "If my son's dreams are of the future then this could be a warning?"

"I do not know, Elrond. I do know that they are not destined to die this night."

Elrond sighed.

"Keep a close eye on your son's, they are destined to be great. Their choice is not yet before them, so cease your worries." With that the Maiar disappeared and Elrond was once again left alone with the invisible barrier.

Shaking his head he turned around casting one last look at his son's, and removed himself from their dream. Once again back in the healing room, Elrond sat back in his chair and lost himself to ancient memories that were hidden and placed deep within his heart.Glorfindel sat up in his bed drenched in a thin layer of sweat. Shaking his head he threw off the covers and placed his bare feet on the floor. He lowered his head to his hands and groaned frustrated. He had decided to take the day off from appointments to catch up on lost sleep but to no avail. He had now reached the point of exhaustion, in elven terms and still could find no rest. He stood up and wrapped his robe about his tall lean frame and wandered out onto the balcony. He lowered his body wearily into a chair thinking back on his dream.

It was the same for him, the feelings, the fear, and the panic. There was also the excitement and thrill of his dreams. He shook his head and closed his eyes. He tried to dislodge the horrible images from his mind, but they were still too vivid and new. He sat in his chair and wondered to himself if he were indeed the warrior from ancient times, but his mind would not allow him to comprehend the idea.

"It is not possible." He grumbled. He stood up and wandered back into his chambers and threw open his wardrobe searching for a change of clothes. He pulled out his formal robes and dressed himself slowly, his mind still wandering through his dream. Taking a deep breath he opened the adjoining doors of his chambers to his sitting room and wandered through them to the table holding a flask of wine. He poured himself a large drink and gulped it down. He placed the goblet down and exited his room slowly, lost in thought looking for a distraction. He passed by the twin's rooms and he stopped briefly remembering the accident earlier that day. The thrill of prey hunting had awoken too many memories and dreams.

Lost in thought he continued down the halls towards the Halls of Healing where he assumed Elrond would be, due to his son's injury. He reached the infirmary and edged the door open slightly to glance inside, and there sat Elrond asleep by his son's bed and Elladan looking slightly better then he had. Glorfindel frowned and edged towards the bed and lowered his hand to rest on the boy's forehead. He felt his breathing ease, and his heart slow its erratic beating. Smiling to himself he straightened himself and quietly walked towards the door.

"What brings the Balrog slayer to the infirmary at this hour?" A voice whispered causing Glorfindel to spin around startled.

Elrond sat up in his chair and waved the golden haired elf over to a chair. Glorfindel complied and sat down.

"You look troubled." Elrond whispered.

"What did you call me?" Glorfindel hissed.

"When?" Elrond smirked.

Glorfindel frowned. "This is no time for games, Elrond. How is your son?" Glorfindel changed the subject quickly.

"He will live." Elrond placed his hand on his son's chest and listened to the breathing. "He was lucky. What of those boys?"

Glorfindel snarled. "They are with Erestor and Figwit. I was too angry and decided a nap would ease my mind."

Elrond nodded. "And did it?"

"What?"

"Ease your mind?"

The golden haired elf shook his head. "I could not sleep. I may soon ask you for a sleeping drought should I continue with my sleepless nights."

"More dreams of the Balrog?"

Glorfindel groaned. "Why must you bring that up?"

"Come, let us leave and continue this conversation in my study." Elrond stood up and both lords exited the room leaving the twins asleep.

Elrohir snuggled next to his brother, as sleep started to fade. He was comfortable and did not want to wake. Slowly he sat up and glanced around him curiously. He felt a pinch and he glanced down seeing his brother smiling faintly at him.

"You are awake." Elrohir exclaimed.

His brother nodded pulling the blankets up to his chin. "I am not ready to get up yet."

Elrohir smiled. "I do not think Ada will let you get up with a hole in your side."

Elladan frowned. "Hole? Oh, right, I had forgotten about that." He pushed the blankets down and looked at his heavily bandaged midsection.

"Does it hurt?" Elrohir asked lightly touching the bandage.

Elladan shook his head, pushing his brother's hand away. "It might if you touch it."

Elrohir jumped down from the bed and tip toed to the door peeking his head out. "No one is around." He snickered looking over his shoulder at his twin.

Elladan slowly sat up cringing as the motion pulled at his side. He took a deep breath and sat there for a moment while his head stopped dancing. "I feel funny." Elladan grumbled.

Elrohir turned away from the door and noticed his brother was white again. "You match the sheets." He mused.

Elladan pulled the blanket up and held it next to his arm. "No I don't." He stated.

"Not your arm silly, your face. You look like you have seen a monster." Elrohir grinned.

"There are no monsters." Elladan pouted.

Elrohir nodded. "Yes there are, scaredy. Remember the book that Ada showed us?"

"Who are you calling a scaredy?" Elladan frowned. "Leaf muncher!" He flopped back onto the bed sniffing indignantly.

"You're the leaf muncher." Elrohir wrinkled his forehead.

Both boys got into a name calling battle, which eventually got louder and louder as time passed. Soon the news of the argument reached Elrond's ears and both he and a now pale-faced Glorfindel made their way to the infirmary. As they reached the healing rooms they heard the argument a few doors down and Elrond shook his head opening the door.

"What is the meaning of this?" He asked seeing his son standing on a chair with both hands on his hips looking down at his brother.

Both boys pointed to each other and said. "He started it!"

Elrond stood there sealing a mask of indifference on his face. "I do not care who started it. Elladan you need to be resting, and Elrohir it is time that you left the room."

Elrohir stuck his tongue out and jumped down from the bed. He quickly raced past his father and disappeared down the halls.
Elrond watched his eldest son's face turn from one of anger to one of disappointment. He glanced around him with a mix of boredom and sadness. "When can I leave my bed, Ada?"

"When I say you can. Sleep and get some rest." Elrond closed the door and lead Glorfindel back to his study.

Elladan pulled the blankets up around his chin and slowly drifted off into sleep. His whispered plea passed unnoticed to anyone but him. 'Please let my dream be good.' He whispered over and over again until finally he was lost on the path of dreams, alone once more.