24

The next day was pretty breezy. Would have made great kite weather.

So I didn't indulge in archery, but spent the morning working on my

illumination. After the mid-day meal, Cerwal gave me some more jumping

pointers.

We were riding back from the high meadow where Cerwal had set up

moveable jumps, when we saw Hanj come up the road to the bridge over the

Bruinen, flanked by two elvish guards.

As we drew closer, I could see Hanj was carrying a small bundle

wrapped in blankets and my heart sank. It must be little Jafa. I also saw

that the boy's mother sat side-saddle behind Hanj.

"The boy must be in bad straights Master Cerwal. Lord Elrond

told me Hanj is very proud."

"He is indeed, Marie. The burns must be as serious as you thought."

I nodded sadly as we drew abreast of Hanj and his burden. He looked

at me and briefly dipped his head as he passed us. I nodded in return.

Once I was done seeing to Carenloth, I rushed back to the House,

anxious to find out what was going on.

I went to Lord Elrond's study and carefully peeked around the slightly

ajar door. I could see candlelight in the surgery. I stepped in and my heart

sank. The little ones bandages had been unwrapped and I could see that the

whole left side of him was angry with blisters. His arm was still splinted.

Even some of his hair was missing. The mother held one of the boy's hands

and Hanj stood next to her, an arm about her shoulders. Lord Elrond was

deep in his work, so deciding to leave them alone, I slipped back out into the

study.

"Marie," the elf lord called out softly. "Will you find Erestor and ask

him to prepare rooms for this lady and her child and Hanj?"

"Of course my lord." I bowed slightly to the empty room in his

direction and went off to find Erestor, whom, at this time of day, was usually

engaged in a book or a game of some sort, usually with Glorfindel, if he was

not working on his accounts.

Today, I found the elf lord involved in a chess match with Glorfindel.

Both elf lords looked up at me with a smile. They were in a small study off

Erestor's suite of rooms, which were at the other end of the hallway from

Elrond.

"My pardon my lords." I was being all officious, as, well... I was on

official business as it were. "Lord Erestor, Lord Elrond would like you to see

to guest rooms for a man, a woman and an injured child. It is Hanj the

carnival owner and a woman from his troupe."

"I shall see to it Marie. I am just about to show Glorfindel who is the

real chess master here, as soon as he makes his move."

Glorfindel winked at me and slid his piece. It was a checkmate.

Erestor looked at him in shock. "I did not see that move coming Glor!

And I had Ballerian's Counter Attack all ready to sweep your queen into

captivity." Erestor stood at that, his green and gold robes falling into a

pleasing shape at his booted feet. His reddish brown hair was pulled back to

the nape of his neck with a tie glittering with small polished stones.

"Well," he said with a sigh, eyeing the chess board, "I am off to see to

the rooms. Good game, as always Glor." He bowed to us slightly and left.

I helped Glorfindel set the chess game in order, still smiling at

Erestor's surprise. "So, you are not only quite a warrior, but a clever chess

player as well."

"From time to time. Shall we play some day?' He tipped his head at

me smiling broadly.

I laughed. "Only if you wish to start and finish a game in a few

minutes! Trust me, my skills are not up to yours."

Glorfindel laughed at that and I followed him out of the room.

I was at sixes and sevens, I was not sure what to do with myself. I was

a bit anxious about the injured boy, but glad they had decided on seeking

Elrond's aid. If anyone could help the boy, he could.

I was idly plunking pebbles in a deep pool beneath a waterfall that fell

next to a high arched bridge between one section of the House and another.

I realized with a shock that made me drop my pebbles all at once: I was

bored!

Bored! Here in Rivendell with the elf lord in attendance! I must be out

of my mind.

Brushing my hands on my gown, I went in search of said elf lord.

Surely between the two of us, we could come up with something to do.

I found him in his study of course, going through a ledger of some

sort. He was thankfully unattended. Being bored was a bad enough

admission; witnesses would make it worse.

"Marie. How may I help you?" He looked up from his work and

smiled at me.

I went up to his desk, and then paced away towards the big window,

then stopped before the cold fireplace. I fingered the braided edge of a

tapestry of great antiquity that I had always loved, of ships on a storm tossed

sea beneath a glittering moon and stars. As I recall, it represented those that

escaped the Fall of Beleriand.

"Marie?" He asked softly again.

I whirled around, biting my lip and went straight to his desk. "My

lord, I- I am..... bored!" I ducked my head, embarrassed. I even wrung my

hands. "I need something to do!"

"Do you? How timely your arrival, then. Jafa and his mother Felana could

use your help. You may do what you think best to entertain either of them.

And," he rose from his desk and came around the front to look at me closely.

I blinked, waiting. "I have another request."

I grinned. Okay, something important to do, I hope. Hot dog!

"I would like you to accompany Felana and Jafa when he is ready to

travel. You mentioned seeing the Great Northern Fair would be

entertaining. This would give you a chance to see it."

I really had to keep myself from jumping up and down. "I would love

to go to the fair. It sounds so fun. And as for entertaining them, well, I guess

the mother and I can go for walks, visit the gardens, etc. Maybe even go

swimming at the big pool beneath the high falls."

"Those activities sound fine. As for the fair---

"---Are you going?" I jumped on his words.

"Perhaps. I have not decided yet."

I have the control of a river in flood. "Oh please come! You..." And

then I realized he had just been out and about, all the way to Lothlorien to

visit with Arwen and to attend a White Council meeting. "....you must be

tired. You just got back from a long journey." I slumped, sighing. "Well, I

am sure it will be fun anyway. And I will be with Hanj and his group." I was

talking to convince myself. "That will be interesting, and I do so love to

camp. And I'll see a lot more Middle Earth too."

Lord Elrond laughed. He patted me on the shoulder and said, "I have

not made up my mind yet, Marie. And I assure you; I am not "tired."

I grinned at him, feeling slightly foolish and then with a small wave,

left his study.

Okay. Well. Maybe he would come. Ooooohhhhhh I sure hope he

wanted to! But maybe a country fair, even a large one, is a bit beneath his

dignity? (I had never heard of any elvish fairs. Can you imagine such a

thing?) Shaking my head, I went off to find Felana and Jafa. I hoped they

wouldn't find me too strange!

What was I worried about? Felana was a performer, and though a bit

nervous about all the elves, was friendly enough. Poor little Jafa. I went to

see him in the recovery room outside of Elrond's surgery. He was wrapped

in bandages and asleep. Felana said the elf lord felt her son

would heal up nicely, though it would take awhile.

We were about to leave, when we heard a stirring from the bed.

"Mama?" A small dry voice asked. "Mama, where am I?"

Felana ran back to Jafa and gently picked him up, careful of his

injuries and held him close. "We are with the elves Jafa. Their lord is a

healer and he has taken care of you."

"Mama, I am very thirsty." He blinked and sat up a little. "I do not see

any elves? Has he gone then? Poof?"

I smiled. "Felana, I shall see if I can find Lord Elrond."

"Thank you Marie."

Since he was not in his study, I was not sure where he might be on

such a lovely day. The gardens? The small or big pond? The stables?

Practicing sword work with Glorfindel or Erestor? I prowled down the halls.

I saw Erestor come out of his study. "My lord. Do you know the

whereabouts of Lord Elrond?"

He came up to me. "Anything the matter?"

"The little boy who got burned, he wants to meet him. I mean, if he

can."

"Elrond is in the small map room I believe."

"I know just where that is. Thanks my lord." Erestor, ever polite,

bowed slightly, turned and took the hall in the opposite direction. I ran off to

find the elf lord.

Then I stopped myself: Why in heaven's name was I running? I was

all wound up for some reason. I slowed down and by the time I reached the

library, I was not so flustered. I entered the room and indeed, Elrond was

there, leaning over a map on the large central table.

"Marie."

"My lord."

He looked up. "All is well with you?"

"Oh just fine, thank you. I've come because little Jafa would like to

meet you, I mean if you have time or it's not interrupting anything." I bent

my head to look at the map that lay before him. I saw the Sindarin writing

for Imladris up toward what would be the eastern edge of the map. As for

the rest of it...Lord Elrond rolled up the map with a decisive snap and then

carefully put it away amongst the scrolls behind him in a dark wood cabinet.

"Come Marie. Let us go visit with little Jafa. Did his mother wake

him?"

"No my lord. We just had gone in to see how he was doing and as we

were about to leave he awoke on his own. He seemed a little groggy and he

was very thirsty."

"I shall remedy that."

"So," I looked at his beautiful austere face sideways as we went down

the corridor. "What was the map you were looking at, if I maybe so bold."

He turned with a slight smile, the afternoon sun warming his skin and

sparking highlights in his dark hair. "It was a map of Middle Earth."

"The whole of Middle Earth? It didn't look that big."

"No, it was the northern portion of Arda as far as the names of things

have traveled."

"You mean there are still places here in Arda that no one here knows

about?"

"Indeed. The land stretches all about until it meets itself."

"It is round then."

"Yes, though we name it "bent."

I was silent for a bit more and then asked. "So, still debating about whether

or not to go?" I clasped my hands tightly. I was so ready to tell him the

many reasons he should go.

Amused, he said, "I have not yet decided."

At that point, we had reached his study. He paused to make a cordial

for Jafa and then we went into the recovery room, where Felana was still

holding Jafa, singing to him in a low voice.

Smiling at us she whispered softly, "Jafa, my love, look who is here to see

you." Elrond handed her the cup.

He opened his one good eye (the other wrapped in bandages) and

looked at us dazedly and then tried to sit up straighter. He awkwardly tried

to hold his mother close but she very gently moved him so he faced Elrond

and I more directly. She tipped the cup up to his mouth. He was so thirsty,

he only made one icky face and kept drinking until the cup was empty.

"Hello my lady and my lord," he said very carefully, as Felana set the

cup aside.

I ducked a bit behind the elf lord and shook my head slightly.

"I am Elrond little Jafa. How are you feeling?"

Jafa brought a hand up to his bandages. "It does not hurt so much, sir

elf. Thank you." But he stirred restlessly, trying to get comfortable.

Elrond drew closer and Felana lay Jafa back on the bed. 'Sweetheart,

Lord Elrond needs to check your bandages and such."

Jafa bit his lip and made him self smaller by drawing his knees up and

curling over on his side, but that pulled at his healing burns and he

whimpered. Elrond leaned over is small form quickly and lay a hand on

Jafa's bandaged side. In moments, I could see the boy visible relax. "Jafa, I

do not need to clean your burns at this time as I did that this morning while

you still slept."

Jafa nodded.

"Are you hungry little Jafa?"

He burst out suddenly, "How is Beyon? How are his burns? Can you

make him better?"

Elrond looked enquiringly at the mother who replied with a smile,

"The pony he was riding when he fell."

"If the pony was brought here Jafa, Cerwal our horse master would

tend to him. He is very good with injured animals." I suddenly thought of

my poor cat Ivy who had been found by one of Elrond's archers two weeks

after I had returned here from the 21st century, in bad shape and half starved.

And Cerwal indeed, had done wonders with her.

Jafa looked up at the elf lord. "I hope he is getting better, then." He

plucked at his mother's sleeve, her arm loosely around his waist. "I would

like to eat something. And to drink. " His one eye looked brighter and more

intense. "Might I have fairy cakes and star's milk?"

Felanna laughed and hushed him quietly. I was wondering what he

meant and Lord Elrond shook his head slowly, "I am not sure---"

"He is speaking of the poem I have recited to him on many a night,

which ends...

"...and so the boy sailed off to the moon,

in a ship as light as swan's down.

Eagerly his eyes fixed on the silver trail

Of moonlight, his guide to the magical realm of Yon.

There fairies and elves and sprites do dance.

Their lands blessed and their feasts of fairy cakes and star's milk—"

"---sweet beyond his dreams," finished Jafa in a high piping voice.

Elrond smile grew as he listened to the poem. When they finished

he chuckled, "Well my little one, I shall see what Resaldil can do about

making "fairy" cakes and "star milk."

Jafa smiled back and then looked at his mother. As we left the two, I

heard him say quietly. "Oh moma, a real elf, just like in the poem. Can we

stay another day?"

I looked at Elrond and he was smiling. "The things little ones get

fixed in their head. Arwen was certain once that some beautiful pebbles she

had discover in the river were really dragon eggs and she tried to make a hen

sit on them so they might hatch."

I laughed out loud. "That's great! I never think of elvish children

doing such things. It sounds, so, well...human! Though I was told of one

time when the twins brought geese into your bathing room...."

Elrond laughed again. "And you have no idea of the mess."

Out of nowhere I blurted out, "Please Lord Elrond! Come to the fair!

I bet you need a vacation. You need just to have some fun."

"Midsummer's was not....fun?"

"Yes, of course, it was delightful. But that was,

fun! A fair out in the Wild well, anything could happen! Mountebanks!

Maybe elephants? Booths with all kinds of neat stuff! And food!" I stopped

in the hallway and had the nerve to grab him by the sleeve. "It would be so

much fun, and you know it!"

"Oliphaunts? Stuff?" He looked at me, his eyes sparkling with humor.

"And Marie, when ever you use that word, "fun," I find I have need of my

medical supplies."

"At a fair with a whole bunch of people intent on having fun?

nonsense! It will be fu---entertaining!" I looked at him intently. "Please?"

I held my breath. He looked like he was going to relent......

"I shall think about it."

Arghhhhhh!

to be continued