"Aiya Elbereth!"
The guard stood on the threshold of Glorfindel's room, momentarily rendered immobile by the sight before him, a drawn sword in his hand. The room was still lit from when he had entered just a short time ago. Glorfindel lay on the bed, unmoving, tunic-less and bloody and Erestor lay upon the floor.
The guard recovered quickly, sheathing his sword and moving swiftly to the figure upon the floor. He fell to his knees and rolled Erestor over, the amount of blood made it difficult to ascertain the exact location of the wound, so he grabbed the tunic lying nearby and used it to wipe the area before using it to apply pressure to the wound. The elf was alive and for that he was grateful, he was also grateful that he had had the wits to move as soon as he heard the glass bottles shattering upon the stone floor, Erestor would have died quickly without his assistance.
"What happened here? Why did you do this?" he asked of Glorfindel's silent form. Freeing a hand he felt Glorfindel's neck, checking his pulse, relieved in part to find it beating strongly.
Mithrandir was heading towards Glorfindel's chambers when he heard the guard's call, chilling enough to put the fear of the Valar into him. Sending the notion of Lordly dignity to Mandos, he picked up the front of his robes and ran, closely pursued by a guard from the neighbouring corridor.
Sweeping into the rooms, Mithrandir quickly took stock of the situation and bid the guard behind him lift the fallen elfling, and together the two guards made haste to the healing house.
A moment later another of Gil-Galad's guards entered to find the Istari cleaning Glorfindel's bloodied form.
"My Lord, my fellows bid me guard this elf." The elf proclaimed.
"That will not be necessary,"
"But My Lord, my fellows say he attempted a kinslaying, he may be dangerous."
Mithrandir's patience had all but run out as he turned a rather weary face to the young guard, "No such thing occurred here, an accident, aye, but naught but an accident. I am Istari, young one, do you doubt my ability to see myself safe, if you are in need of something to guard, might I suggest the closed door to these rooms."
Suitably chastised, and rather red-faced the young guard bowed in submission, and retreated to the corridor, closing the door behind him.
Mithrandir continued in his task of cleaning the blood off of Glorfindel's form.
Finishing his task, he removed Glorfindel's boots and tucked his feet beneath the bedding before covering his body with the sheets. Glorfindel slept through it all, his eyes shut in a healing sleep, as Mithrandir settled in to wait in the chair nearby.
-
He had just finished stitching up the knife wound on Erestor's neck, thankful that the young elf had remained unconscious throughout. He was confident now that Erestor would heal but it had been a close thing, if the knife had cut just a fraction higher there would have been no saving the elfling, as it was, Erestor owed his life to the guard who had acted quickly to stem the bleeding.
Finuial was furious that something like this could happen to an elf within the safety of the castle. The guards were unable to give a coherent description of what had occurred, there had been talk of Glorfindel attempting to slay his friend. This, Finuial could not accept, they were devoted to each other, Glorfindel would never harm Erestor, there had to be another explanation.
Placing his hand on Erestor's brow to check on his temperature, fearing the abnormal heat that would signify infection he smiled to see Erestor's eyes flutter open.
"Hurts, why?"
Finuial would not disturb the elfling with half-baked descriptions of what had happened, so he merely said "there was an accident, you have a cut on your neck, it will hurt to talk, so try not to."
"Let's sit you up, this" the healer held up a cup "will help with the pain and help you to sleep."
Erestor nodded slightly, and sat up carefully, he took the cup from the healer with a glare when he attempted to assist him.
Gil-Galad swept into the room, looking dishevelled and worried. He ignored the healer, going directly to Erestor's side. The healer took the empty cup that Erestor held out to him as Gil-Galad cupped his face between his hands, "Are you alright?" he said softly bringing his brow to rest against Erestor's.
"I have instructed him not to speak, My Lord" the healer replied.
"You will be fine, no need to speak" Gil-Galad stated calmly, releasing the elfling from his embrace.
Erestor's eyes, beginning to glaze over flicked in silent plea to the healer, "My Lord, Erestor must rest now." Gil-Galad gave the healer room as he laid Erestor back down; the elfling's eyes slipping shut almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.
When it was clear that Erestor had found reverie, Gil-Galad turned to the healer.
"Thank you for sending for me."
"I did so because I feared he would die this night, but he is stronger than I give him credit for." The healer said with a hint of pride in his voice.
"Aye that he is."
"What happened here My Lord?" Finuial questioned, "What the guards say I cannot believe."
Gil-Galad sighed, "I don't know Finuial, but I intend to find out." With a last caress of the elfling's hair Gil-Galad moved out of the healing house.
-
Mithrandir looked up as Gil-Galad entered Glorfindel's room, and came to sit upon the side of the bed.
"I should have Glorfindel cast out of Balar and banished from all elven realms for his actions this night."
"That you must not do."
Gil-Galad sighed, "Mithrandir, I have spoken with the guard, he is quite sure of what occurred here, though he does not wish to believe it."
"Was the guard present at the time the wound was inflicted? Only Erestor and Glorfindel were present, it would be unwise to jump to an incorrect conclusion."
"I am nothing if not fair, Mithrandir and I will hear all arguments, but if Erestor calls Glorfindel kinslayer my hands are tied."
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A/N CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur, LadyJanelly, Roguish Smile, blah, Asha Dreamweaver, tineryn and Crecy – Thank you so much for your comments, I love seeing how people react to my writings :o)
