Ela looked up from the reports she was filling out. The outer door opening had caught her attention. She was expecting her father, but it was too early yet. Sighing, she got up to see who had come in. Her eyes widened as she saw a man standing in the small receiving room. His hair and clothing was dishevelled and he looked to be in shock.
"May I help you?" she asked, automatically speaking in Westron. She did not know the man, so chances were that he was newly arrived.
"My wife, she is in trouble!" He surprised her by speaking in Elvish.
"What is the matter?" Her mind was already trying to remember where it was Melkin had said he would be today. It was her turn to stay and wait for patients in the office.
"She is delivering, but something is wrong."
"Where is she?" Ela grabbed a bag sitting on a chair in the study.
"Not far. Where is the healer?" He kept looking for someone behind her.
"I am a healer. Are you ready?"
"But…" he stammered. "You are but a child. I need the healer!"
"We can stand here and debate my ability to aid your wife, and she will die, along with the babe. Or you can take me to her, and give them both a chance."
The man looked around one last time. Resigned to the fact there was no healer available, he stepped out of the way. He kept glancing at her as he led the way. He could not know that she was fully capable of doing anything Melkin could do. He could also not know that the 'child' that accompanied him was older than he was.
At fifty, Ela had already attained her full height. Her hair and ears were a dead giveaway to her mixed heritage. Most in the valley knew who and what she was. However, visitors routinely mistook her for human. She seldom set them straight. Although she had felt the need to learn the healing of humans, it did not make her any more fond of them. Her experiences with any outside the Elves, Dwarves and Hobbits had taught her a healthy dislike for men. She would treat their illnesses and aid in their births, but outside of a handful, she was not inclined to befriend them. Moreover, the three times the Indrel had made contact, she had refused even to acknowledge their presence. Even Erestor had been unable to move her. Her only joy came from returning to her small house, set below one of the many waterfalls. She received few guests there. If any wanted to meet with her, they did so in her father's house, in his presence. It was the one stipulation she had made to returning. Benerd's family was the only humans permitted to her home, although Dorga was a regular visitor; and Rúmil and Haldir stopped by when in Imladris on business from Lórien.
She looked at the man.
"What is your name?"
"Cabel."
"And your wife?"
"Lutheliel."
Ela frowned. That sounded Elvish.
"I have never seen you before. Are you visiting, or living here?"
"We arrived only weeks ago. We have a small homestead in the mountains north of here. I brought her because I do not know what to do. Can you help her?"
"I will do my best. I should tell you that I have not lost anyone yet," Ela said with a smile, hoping to allay some of his fear. She noted that they were bound for the inn. Glancing further up the street, she paused. "Just a moment," she told the man. He watched her approach a stately Elf. He recognized him as the Lord of Rivendell. Cabel stood surprised when the girl walked into an embrace and reached up to receive a kiss on her cheek. He could not hear what she said to the man, but waited as she drew him closer.
"Ada, this is Cabel. His wife is delivering, and he is seeking help. Have you seen Melkin?"
"No, Iell, but you are most capable of handling it."
"I know, but he would feel better if Melkin was there."
Elrond looked at the man. "Would you like me to attend?"
Cabel was flabbergasted.
"No, my lord," he stammered. "The girl will be enough. I would not dream of dragging you away from your business for such a trivial thing."
"There is nothing trivial about childbearing," admonished Elrond. "And my daughter is quite adept at delivering babes. She had been doing it for several years now. You are in good hands."
"Your d-d-daughter?" It seemed the man could not get a sentence out without stuttering. "I had no idea."
"Ela, you did not tell him who you were?"
"I forgot. He seemed in such a hurry."
"Yet you got his name." He turned to the man. "I apologize for her lack of manners. She gets too engrossed in her work. Cabel, this is Elrénia. She is an excellent healer. She has taken it upon herself to learn the illnesses of men. I do not know why, but she does have a knack for it."
"I am sorry, my lady. I had no idea. I only wanted the healer."
"And you have found her. Now, shall we move on? I do not think your lady has been waiting quietly for us."
Cabel moved quickly to lead them to the inn. Almost running through the door to the establishment, he found the proprietor waiting for him.
"I took fresh towels and hot water up. You had best hurry; it will not be much longer." She glanced to see who had accompanied the man.
"Good afternoon, Lady Elrénia. It is good to see you again." She bowed her head. "And you, also, Lord Elrond.
"Thank you, Cleria. Now, which way to your room?" she asked Cabel.
"This way," he said. They followed him up the stairs to the second floor. Turning down the hallway to the left, he led them through the door. Ela immediately went to the woman lying on the bed. She glanced back at Cabel.
"She is Elven. Cabel, you did not tell me this."
"Does it make a difference?"
"Some, I am more versed in human births, but they are much the same."
She turned back to the woman.
"Lutheliel, how do you feel?"
"Something is not right. There is too much pain."
"I want you to rest now. I can help you, but you can do it yourself. Just relax. You have worked yourself up. It is not good for the babe." She laid her hand on the woman's brow. Cabel watched in amazement as Lutheliel quieted and drifted off to sleep.
"What did you do?"
"Only what she should have done herself. Ada, we need to move her to the infirmary. I cannot help her much here." Cabel stood in shock as Elrond moved to the bed and picked Lutheliel up. He managed to move out of the way. "Gather what she will need later, and bring it with you." She did not wait to see if he obeyed. She followed her father out the door.
Cabel grabbed what he thought they would need and ran after them. He could not believe that he had managed to upset the routine of the one who had been gracious enough to let them stay. And the girl, he had not dreamed she was Elven. She did not look it. Yet, he had heard her call the man father, and he had called her daughter. Lutheliel was not going to believe this.
He lost sight of them on the busy street. By the time he had reached the infirmary, his wife was settled on a bed in the back. Elrond was speaking, and Elrénia was examining her. He dropped the bag he held on a chair and went into the room. He could not understand the words Elrond spoke, but they had a calming effect on Lutheliel. He was smoothing her hair from her face. She spoke back to him in the same language.
"What are they saying?" he asked Ela.
"Ada is asking why she is so upset. He is trying to calm her down. It is not good for either her or your babe. He will have a hard time as it is. She needs to help him all she can."
A word registered in Cabel's mind.
"He? It is a boy? How do you know?"
"Ela knows. It is one of the things that make her so good. Trust her. If she says it is a boy, it is." Elrond took Cabel by the arm and led him to the receiving room. He had just sat the man down, when Melkin came through the door.
"Lord Elrond," he nodded, surprised to see him. "Is everything well?"
"There is nothing to worry about," said Elrond, glancing at Cabel. "Ela is taking care of things. Perhaps you would like to check on her."
Melkin caught the undercurrent in Elrond's voice. He nodded once more, and then went to the back room. He found Ela standing over a pregnant woman. As he moved closer, he saw that she was Elven.
"What do you have, Ela?"
"Cabel, her husband came earlier and said she was distressed. When we went to see her, I felt it best to bring her here. Ada helped me. I have enabled her to relax enough to sleep. She is very agitated. I cannot find the reason."
"That is unusual for elves. Why do you not fix some tea, and I will examine her?"
"Very well. Maybe I will slip a little something into Cabel's tea. Help him relax. He is enough to distress me."
Melkin chuckled at her. The twenty-five years she had been studying with him had brought many moments to make him smile. She was definitely not the girl who had left so many years ago. He turned back to Lutheliel. Her breathing had slowed and she had relaxed. He wished, not for the first time, that he had Ela's ability to calm her patients. He knew most elves could do it, but none had been willing to aid him in dealing with men. She was, even though he knew her dislike for them in general. When he had finished his examination, he went back to the receiving room. Everyone looked at him, expectantly.
"She is fine. Ela, you did well. As of right now, there is nothing about which to worry. She is sleeping. It will not be much longer."
"Thank you. I could not take her to her family. They were not accepting of our union. He father turned her out with nothing."
"That does not sound like an Elven family." Ela was shocked. Although her parents had suffered the same fate, her mother's people had done the disowning. She had found acceptance with her father's mother, and her cousin, Lord Elrond. She would never have expected it of elves.
"It was not. Her father is not Elven. He wanted better for his children. It is not easy to understand. He would not accept what he himself did. Lutheliel and I left and settled in the mountains north. As this is our first child, and I know nothing of birthing, I brought her here. But, she keeps muttering about fear and the fact that I do not have one. She fears for the child."
"That will make no difference," laughed Ela. "My mother was not Elven, or of the race of men. Yet, here am I. Neither is Lord Elrond full Elven. So, you see, it will be well. He will be fine."
"He." said Melkin. He knew better than to doubt. Ela was never wrong.
"He," she stated. "A big, healthy boy."
She and Elrond both started at the moan the other two could not hear. She hurried to the door of the back room. Going in, she went to Lutheliel.
"How do you feel, lady?"
"Better. It is time. You are not human."
"No. I am not. However, you and your son can ponder that later. Now, we must bring him in to this world. Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"I want you to reach into yourself and find a peaceful place. Dwell there with part of your mind. I will take care of the rest. Melkin," she called over her shoulder. "It is time. Bring in Cabel."
"No," she heard him protest. "I cannot go in there. It is not done."
"Nonsense," said Melkin. "The elves do it, why can we not?"
She turned and saw the father-to-be reluctantly enter the room. Melkin motioned him to sit beside Lutheliel's head.
"Just talk to her. She will hear you."
Cabel looked down at Lutheliel's semi-conscious form and did not appear convinced. He began speaking to her in soft tones.
Ela placed a blanket over Lutheliel. She laid out blankets for the baby, and sat down beside the woman to wait.
She looked at Cabel and noticed for the first time his colouring. His hair was a shade darker than hers was, and he bore pale freckles across his face. A suspicion started to form in the back of her mind. She suddenly rose, and going over to Cabel, she laid a hand on his shoulder. They both drew away from each other with a gasp.
"Who are you?" she demanded. He looked at her in confusion.
"I told you. My name is Cabel."
"Where are you from?"
She had drawn Melkin's attention and he started towards her, stopping only at a gesture from her father.
"We came from the White Mountains. I did not know my father. He died long ago, before I was born. My mother left her people when I was young.
Elrond watched as Ela stepped back. He could see the emotions warring within her.
"Iell," he said softly, "Can you not deal with this later?" He trod carefully, knowing her feelings for any coming from the White Mountains.
Reason took over and she shook, slightly. "Apologies, Ada, Melkin. Yes, I can." She turned back to Lutheliel. The woman looked up at her, her eyes slightly glazed. "It is well. Just relax and let it happen." She smiled.
Cabel watched in wonder as his son entered the world.
Several hours later saw Lutheliel and son firmly ensconced in their room at the inn. Ela had done what she needed to do to see the new mother and child cleaned up, and had then withdrawn. Cabel had not noticed, until he wanted to thank her.
"But, where did she go?" he asked, when told she was gone.
"I am sure she went home," replied Melkin. He turned to Cabel. "Who are your mother's people?"
Cabel looked confused. "She only mentioned them a few times, but I do not remember."
"Were they Indrel?" Melkin and Elrond both watched to see his reaction.
"I think…that could have been…I am just not sure, but that could be what she said. Why? Do you know of them?"
Elrond cleared his throat. "Elrénia has had less than pleasant experiences with the Indrel. She does not want any dealings with them."
"But I have not seen them since I was young. And how did she know about me?"
"Because she is Indrel, or partly. Her mother's people are not happy with her. They want her to come back, and they are not polite about the asking. Unless you are leaving soon, you would do well to avoid her until she sorts out her feelings."
"But, I thought she was your daughter." Cabel was very confused by now.
"She is my cousin, but I did raise her when she was very young. She has spent most of her life in another realm and only recently returned here." Elrond just caught Melkin's grin at the idea of how recent twenty-five years was. "She will tolerate you, but do not push her."
"My mother told me that nothing good would ever come from her people. That is why she left. It was too hard a life and the women died too young."
"That is what we have heard, also. Now, I think it time to get your lady and son settled. Do not worry about Ela. Her interest will get the best of her. She will not be long in deciding to find out more about you. That is her downfall: an insatiable curiosity." Elrond and Melkin helped Cabel back to the inn. Seeing them settled, Elrond wished them well and took his leave. Forgetting his destination before the birth of a child had interfered, he made was for home, and the one place he knew she would be.
Walking into the domain of Dalgren, his head cook, Elrond slowed to view the sight before him. Ela was punching dough as if it were Orcs. Walking up beside her, he brushed the flour from her cheek. As she turned to look at him, he could sense the disquiet in her.
"Why?" she asked. "Why do they not leave me alone?"
"Ela, I hardly think that Cabel and his wife were sent here to convince you to return. It is mere coincidence that they are here."
"I no longer believe in coincidence. There is always a purpose. Maybe it is time I returned to Lórien. I have learned much from Melkin, but I am growing restless. I am drawn back."
"Are you sure you are ready?" Elrond was not pleased, but he realized she did have her own life to lead.
"I will be. I have a few things to take care of before I go. It will be months yet."
"Very well. I trust that you know best in this."
"I do have one favour to ask of you." She hesitated.
"Yes, Iell." He smiled, encouragingly.
"When one comes to speak to you, try not to scare him away." The twinkle in her eyes belied the seriousness of her tone. He froze, not knowing what to do. At the small smile tugging on her lips, he burst out laughing.
"Do you think he is ready?" Elrond asked, when he could get his breath.
"Oh, he is ready. The last five years have been working on him. He has had enough time to think. And if he is not, the Valar know that I am ready."
She started to protest as he drew her into an embrace. Giving up, she wrapped her arms around him, leaving flour across his dark silk robes.