Lost - Chapter Eight
He was once more on Cristhorn with what was left of the warriors of Gondolin. Sweat clung to him from the fighting he had done, plus the awkward escape through Idril's hidden escape route.
There was to be more fighting. Unknown to them, the enemy must have planned for something such as this to happen, and they ran straight into an ambush of Orcs, captained by the Balrog that had been the death of him.
Emotions warred inside him. Worry for the refugees he was now trying to save, grief for those lost, including Ecthelion, whom he had named friend for many a year. Fear for what may happen, not only to himself, but those under his protection and anger at the fiery creature in front of him for blocking the way.
Before he could move a step towards the flaming demon that was to cause him his death a sharp, stabbing pain seared through the lower half of his back. With a cry of surprised pain, he spun about.
An Elfling stood there, reminding him a little of Eärendil. A name came to him then, Elrohir, a grandson to the one he was thinking of. In his hands, the child held a sword made of wood and stabbed at his back yet again.
This was wrong! He thought, looking back over his shoulder. He would have run over to the Balrog and begged it for death then as the pain sharpened even more.
Suddenly he was back in the healing room he was staying in until he figuratively got back on his feet, but the pain did not vanish, and neither did Elrohir. He cried out and tried curling into a ball as the sharp pain refused to fade. The movement just made it worse.
"Glorfindel?" Came the small voice of a terrified child from next to him and Glorfindel turned to Elrohir slowly, hoping to stop the pain from getting worse.
"Healer." He moaned. His back was on fire and, for a few seconds it even felt as though his legs hurt. He felt Elrohir crawl off the bed and heard him run to the main Healing room to fetch one of the Healers.
Glorfindel hoped he didn't have to wait too long.
Elrohir come back into the room, dragging a female Healer, Luinwen by name, with him. She had helped him before, but not after the accident. He had often gotten into one scrape or another with Orcs, or Wargs, or wolves and ended up with injuries that would seem at first much worse than the one he had taken a week ago.
Her dark hair was mussed slightly, her grey eyes blinking tiredly about the room. He moaned loudly, hoping to snap her out of sleep fully. His plan worked. "Where are you sore?" She asked, quickly coming towards him.
"Back." He stated quite rudely, not caring for niceties right at the moment. He growled when she put her hands on where he had told her where he hurt. The pain sharpened slightly when she touched a little to the left of the injured spot and he blacked out.
-
"Glorfindel? Are you feeling better?" Luinwen asked, looking down over him as he slowly opened his eyes.
He shook his head. The pain was not so bad now, more a dull throbbing, but his mind was so fuzzy that nothing was very clear to him.
"I gave you something for the pain. It may make you feel a little strange. It was hard to get it down your throat, so please do not get sick."
He could do nothing but mumble incoherently at that. He couldn't seem to find his tongue to speak words. He suddenly felt hot.
Looking over to one side, he noted that Elrohir was there, the small wooden sword from his dream in his hands. He was sticking it in a doll that reminded him of himself. Next to the boy, hunched down on squatted feet, grinning widely, was the Balrog that had pulled him to his death. One fiery hand was on the young child's shoulder, a somewhat fatherly gesture.
He screeched out loud, trying to get up and run, before his fuzzy mind reminded him his legs did not work. He turned himself onto his stomach and started to crawl away from the image.
He fell. Screaming, he expected to not survive, but after a second his hands hit cold floor and the rest of his body soon followed. He didn't dare move, in case the floor would collapse, or vanish if he did so. The demon of fire moved about a bit so it was standing in his line of vision, Elrohir comfortably perched now on one of its huge shoulders. Sword and doll left behind.
A new face soon made its way into his line of vision then, a female Elf who quickly came and sat next to him. He was confused at first as she wrapped his shaking body in a warm embrace and he wondered if he had bonded with someone.
He shook his head. No, he hadn't. The Balrog took one huge step towards him and he panicked. "No! Get away!" He screamed at it, huddling in the arms he was in.
A voice reached his ears then, soft and feminine, though with a demanding tone only a Healer could have. "Close your eyes and take deep breaths."
He automatically did so, trying to calm himself down enough to take the deep, slow breaths he was told to take. After a few minutes of wondering if his heart would ever calm, it did and with it the rest of him followed.
Slowly, almost afraid at what he would see, he opened his eyes. He sighed with relief when he noticed the lack of both demon and Elfling.
"I am sorry, Glorfindel. I was tired and added something I shouldn't have when I gave you a tea to ease the pain. The hallucinations should not last that long. You have slept through most of the time they would be bothering you."
Glorfindel stared blankly at her for a while. He noted that his mind was a little clearer, but he was still a little disoriented. "Elrohir?" He asked, hoping that his meaning come across in the name.
It did. "He is in the main ward of the Healing Rooms. I sent him there when you passed out. He is safe and asleep last time I checked."
Glorfindel closed his eyes again and nodded. He then proceeded to rub at his forehead, a headache forming there. "Thank you for the tea and...everything."
Luinwen smiled at him then, a lock of blue-black hair falling to frame her face. "I see you have found your voice again."
Glorfindel nodded for an answer, before sitting up as much as he could while still in the woman's arms.
"Let's get you cleaned up a bit and put you back in your bed."
He froze. She made him feel like an Elfling that had just...quickly he looked down at himself, before burying his head in his hands. He was sure that the blush he could feel on his face was beginning to creep down his neck. His pants were soaked, and not from sweat. Moaning, he wished for the floor to open up and swallow him. He couldn't remember a time he had felt more ashamed or embarrassed.
"This is normal for someone with a back injury. You will find you have little, to no, control over your bladder or your bowels. With time, you may gain that back."
His shame deepened at hearing that. He was worse than a child. He was to put up with this forever! "Go away! Leave me!"
"On the floor like this? Whether you want to believe it or not means nothing. You need help."
"I can dress myself!"
Luinwen folded her arms under her chest, effectively letting go of him and toppling him to the floor. With a grunt that was more from the shock of the fall, rather than any pain he may still be feeling, he glared at her from his new position.
"Fine." And without another word, the Healer left the room and him stranded in the middle of the floor desperate for a bath and change of clothing, but willing to settle for just the clothes until morning if need be.
He was beginning to feel dirtier than he already was as the smell of urine sifted through his nose.
His face had begun to cool down a bit by the time Luinwen made her way back in the room with a bundle of clean clothes and a washcloth.
She gave him the clothes and sat on the edge of the bed staring at him all the while. Slightly uncomfortable under her stare, Glorfindel went about trying to shed himself of his soiled clothes. He blankly stared back at Luinwen when he realised something very important. His arms were too weak to lift his body and pull off the sodden pants.
"Your stubbornness will not get you out of those clothes. You cannot get out of them by yourself, at least for the moment."
Glorfindel blinked at her. Was it necessary for her to be so cold towards him? He was weak, was a shame to himself and the people about him. Why did he suddenly feel nothing?
"Will you kindly help me out of these clothes?" He asked, his voice seeming far away though he knew that not to be true.
A smile, the first he had seen tonight, made its way onto Luinwen's face. "Of course."
Soon, she was in front of him and his pants were off. He didn't want his privacy completely gone, but his under clothes were even more soaked and so he didn't resist when the Healer went to strip him of them too.
The blush was back on his face, but this stemmed from a more personal embarrassment. He didn't want to be naked in front of this healer, namely because she was very much...female.
"I will not take any advantage over this situation, you need not worry. I am bound in any case."
That was meant to ease his embarrassment, but it didn't work that well. So, in mere seconds he was bare from the waist down and wishing once again that the floor would open up and swallow him whole. He wondered briefly of where his friend and Lord was, but dismissed the thought. Even Elrond would need rest sometimes.
When Luinwen lifted the washcloth to clean him, he grabbed her wrist. "I am capable of doing that. My hands work after all."
Once again she smiled at him, before handing the piece of towel over. "Of course. I am sorry."
He nodded, before quickly, yet thoroughly, cleaning himself of any evidence of what had happened. He was just glad that his body didn't react to the touch. He instantly would have died from the shame of it, or so he thought.
Luinwen nodded slightly before sitting herself down next to him, a piece of cloth instead of any clothing made him blink, before he recognised her plan. Swaddling. Now he truly did feel an infant. And yet, he still let the young Healer to put it on him, knowing that it would be ridiculous to resist...and he didn't want to wake up to another such embarrassing accident.
Soon, he was fully clothed once more and back in his bed. Luinwen, opting to leave him alone to his nightmares, had left with a word that if he needed anything further to give a shout.
He would never admit it to anyone, but once again he cried himself to sleep.
-
Celebrían found that Erestor's hurried whispers of worry were nothing to fear. She took one look at her husband, spread out on the lounge and a gentle smile lit up her face.
"Elrond would not admit it to me, but I knew he had not been sleeping. Leave him to his rest." She then went about gathering up a cloak that was neatly kept on a rack to one corner and covered him with it.
She then went about carefully wiping the drying ink from his face and hands. It was proof of just how tired Elrond truly was when he didn't so much as stir in his sleep.
"One of the junior healers is looking after Glorfindel. Luinwen. She knows how to handle a cranky Glorfindel, as she has done it before." Erestor stated, making Celebrían smile. That junior healer was the one that helped with the duty of looking after the twins whenever she herself couldn't do so.
"I agree, Erestor. I am sure Glorfindel will be...secretly surprised. He expects Elrond to wait on him whenever he may need a healer. It is doing nothing but cause problems. Elrond is not taking this accident as well as he hopes everyone thinks he does."
Erestor seemed to suddenly remember something important. His face fell into the worried frown he had worn earlier, before he began looking about Elrond's desk. When he found the slip of paper he was looking for, he brought it to her.
Looking over the list, she closed her eyes and thanked the Valar that Elrond seemed to have just written his thoughts down. She knew what this would do to a person, having seen it put to use once. Of course, that had been on a pet dog rather than an Elf, but the effects would be the same.
A pain free death.
"He...he was going to use it on Glorfindel. I could see the determination to do so in his eyes. My Lady, perhaps we should keep Lord Elrond away from Glorfindel for a few days?"
Celebrían nodded. "A break from duty would be good for him. Give him time to rest and recuperate from the stress he is feeling."
Erestor nodded and, early morning or not, with no sleep at all, went to the doors and out into the Halls towards the Healing Wing. He would naturally have to do everything right away. With a slight smile, Celebrían also left the study and sleeping Elrond and headed for bed. She still had a child that was upset and sore to look after.
-
In one of the nearby villages inhabited by Men, an Orc attack was being dealt with. Children and women inside, the men fought bravely to protect their homes and families.
There was a few more Men than there were Orcs and before long, the rest of the twisted creatures that still lived fled towards whatever hole they had come from.
There was two dead, both young males that had never been tried in battle. There was a lot of injured though, most artificial wounds that, if they were not poisoned would heal quickly.
One man, an older fighter that had known battle since he had been a sixteen-year-old untried boy was down and bleeding profusely from a deep cut a little below his shoulder blades. The pain he felt was unbearable and he had trouble pulling in breath to fill his lungs.
Hands reached out towards him and he shouted in panic. What if the Orcs had come back with reinforcements? He tried to scramble away, but found himself unable to. The pain was unbearable and he blacked out.
"Johan," came a voice as if from out of nowhere and he looked towards where it had come from. He knew then that he was either dead, or close to dying, as the vision before him could not be real outside of dreams.
Before the vision could become anything more all than it already was, he felt his body being hastily moved, bringing him back to consciousness. His wife and adult daughter with her husband were trying to move him without jarring his back or upsetting the now-bound wound. They were failing and he was miserable and in pain because of it.
They were taking him in the direction of Rivendell he noted hazily. He noticed then, a line of the more seriously injured beside him.
He wondered idly if the Lord of Rivendell, Elrond would be able to house them all?
He blanked out again as he was jarred badly while his family moved him over to a litter made in haste for him.
A/N – Well, here is the next chapter of Lost up and loaded. It would have been up days ago, but I have had unexpected problems with my computer, and am using another one as I speak.
Hmmm, I am sorry if the hallucination part makes no sense but I had to put it in there…strange and childish though it may be. For Glorfindel that is. Though given the circumstances, bad dreams and such are bound to happen.
Thanks go to DragonEyeZ for the help with the names of the family of Men. Of course, so far only Johan has been mentioned fully. Perhaps one day you will get around to reading this tale Dragon! They are all going to be rather important and from now on, will be major players…at least Luinwen the junior healer and Johan will be.
Ah well, and as always a big thanks to my reviewers.
Golden Elf – I am glad you think this a wonderful tale. I hate to say it, as it is on such a serious topic, but it is rather fun to write too! Yes, Glorfindel truly does need to heal and while he is starting on the way to that now, after having some of the worst things about his…condition now explained to him, there will be one major relapse later in the story.
The title is a little misleading, but at the same time, it is very suited to the story. When I started this tale, I didn't know what to call it and that was the first word to jump into my head. I am not going to change it, at least, I have no plans to, but I would still like to hear what this other title of yours is? You never know, I may change it, but the probability is quite low.
Yo! – lol, nice anonymous name there. Here is an update. Thanks for thinking the story great.
Anonymous Slash Lover – Hey! I have read some of your stories, but they are not ones you are updating now. The one you finished and the sequel, which only has one chapter up so far…. I want to see Erestor have that nervous breakdown!
Yes, their friendship is a wonderful thing, though every now and then, I have been known to write slash with these two…I am much more inclined to just this type of friendship. I am glad you find the story intriguing.
Just Me :oD – Here is another update. I put the paper-sticking-to-Elrond's-face part in there for that reason. I thought it might…lighten the mood a bit, so that people wouldn't be as horrified when they saw what Elrond had written. It didn't work too well apparently. It was just terrible for Elrond to be plotting Glorfindel's death, but he is highly stressed and is taking the responsibility too much on his own shoulders. Caretakers sometimes wish nothing more than a peaceful death to the ones they are looking after in such situations…even if the situation isn't life threatening or even permanent…though that last one is a little harder to know. I don't know if this chapter was longer, but I hope it suits your size limits, lol.
Barbara Kennedy – Yes, now Elrond, despite all his stubbornness has fallen under the pressure. He is ill and is showing it the only way he could think of. By writing down his thoughts and feelings into a small list of ingredients that could literally be the death of his friend. Despite what he may say, he isn't taking this as well as he thinks he is. Poor Celebrian indeed.
Amazingly enough, I had already written most of this chapter when I got your review and laughed, as I had introduced one of the junior healers. Luinwen isn't the only one that will be rocking up in the story, as there must be many more under the watchful eyes of Elrond. And there is no chance that this story will be a romance one…I hate Mary Sue's too, with a fiery passion, so no worries in that department.
Coolio02 – I loved writing that scene between Elrohir and Glorfindel. Well, Glorfindel had to find out what he had done sooner or later and what better person to tell him than Elladan's twin brother? Elladan and Glorfindel will be making up, but that will take place later in the tale.
Yes, Elrond is feeling really pressured. He has been trying to hide the fact, but couldn't for very long…he finally had to ease his mind somehow…I guess this was his way.
Ithiliel Silverquill – Yep! Just a strong friendship happening here, as I have slowly been losing my liking for slash. But that will never fade completely…comes from knowing a gay pair of guys I suppose.
That is actually the reason why I write angst. In a way, I write it because I do think these things are horrible, and that if they happen to me or someone I know, I would be immensely upset, but at the same time, it is a way to try and understand what people who have gone through the topics I write about…go through. My, and that sentence must be grammatically wrong in at least one place, lol.
It is strange really….I started writing Light in the Darkness the year after I finished High School and found out a few weeks ago, that in all likelihood, I could be blind by the time I reach the age of 30. A reason this story took so long to upload this chapter…I don't want to jinx myself I suppose.
Research is a marvelous thing…and of course I spent a few days trying to figure out what psychogenic fugue was…interesting. Is that story up? Or is it something to do with First Impressions? Sorry about not reviewing, but this computer won't let me hits computer
I wanted to show Celebrian as a strong character, as opposed to the too girly, or too harsh or stupid Lady that most people make her out to be. Come on people! She has to be made of sterner stuff than that!
Seeing spots – Glorfindel will eventually make it up to Elladan, but it will take a while. Other than that, yes it is good to see both Glorfindel and Elrohir getting better and healing from this pain they must be feeling.
Emma – Thanks for thinking this story great. I will keep it up.