Chapter 7

His head hurt!

That was the first clear thought that settled in his mind. He slowly became aware of his surroundings. He was lying on his back on something wonderfully soft, wrapped in a cocoon of body heat. He slowly tried to move his fingers, it was barely more then a twitch, but eventually he managed to lift his hand and touch his forehead and let out a groan.

"He's waking up!" said a male voice softly. Then another called

"Ron? Ron, can you hear me?" Ron gave a slight nod. He struggled to open his eyes, and at first couldn't make out more then blurs, he blinked furiously and slowly everything came into focus, to his right Elrond was looking at him gravely, to his left was Glorfindel. Both looked exhausted, dirty and dishevelled. Ron tried to speak, but all that came out was a croak. Elrond got him some water while Glorfindel helped him sit up. He drank slowly, but deeply, the water was like a life giver, so cool and refreshing. When he was finished he spoke,

"What happened?" Elrond smiled grimly

"We won the fight, but you received a blast from a Zat'nikatel."

"Zats!" said Ron, "Less of a mouthful." Then his mind was jogged, and he remembered who'd shot him. "Cer!" he cried in horror, he grabbed Elrond's arm desperately, "Where is he? Tell me I dreamed it!" he pleaded. Elrond sat down on the side of the bed with a tired sigh. He took Ron's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze,

"If I did, I'd be lying Ron. You didn't dream it, Cer is gone, the symbiote took complete control, he shot you once, and then he and the other Goa'uld left. We killed all the orcs and Jaffa, and then brought you back along with the other injured."

"No! No, no, no!" screamed Ron in anguish, tears coming into his eyes. He didn't believe it, no, it couldn't be true, he was lying, he had to be, please let him be lying. Ron began to weep openly, his heart feeling like it was being ripped in two. Cer was a dear friend to him, but now he was worse then dead, possessed by a malevolent creature, that would torture and kill people with his hands, their faces plastered in his mind.

'I could have stopped it!' he thought angrily, 'If I had been a bit quicker, just a second, I could've saved him!'

"Ron! Don't blame yourself!" said Elrond sternly, even though Ron was still crying, and he, Elrond, was comforting him, rubbing his back soothingly. "You couldn't have stopped it, all our archers, were aiming to stop him, but the blasts just knocked them over. There was nothing we could've done." Ron cried harder, there had been no hope for his friend, the one who always told him there was always still hope; you just had to find it. Finally he could speak and he said, donning a mask of calm,

"Status!" his voice was hitched, the only sign he was upset. Glorfindel spoke, after sighing heavily,

"Twenty wounded, one dead and one captured and possessed." Ron felt like his stomach had dropped, and a stone was in his throat.

"Who was the one who died?" he asked shakily

A heavy sigh,

"Kinthia." A howl like a wounded animal was heard across the room, but it didn't come from Ron. All the elves looked to see Maedd clinging to Kinthia's bruised and battered body. He was sobbing loudly into her hair, and whispering things that none could pick up. Ron struggled to his feet and noticed for the first time he was in a night robe. He walked, a little unsteadily, over to the grief stricken elf. As he came close, Maedd suddenly snapped his head up and turned his eyes accusingly to Ron, who froze. Maedd's eyes had a mad glint to them, and they were furious.

"You." he whispered, laying Kinthia back down and standing up slowly. Ron gulped; he remembered something Earithramir had told him,

"Never, ever, get in the way of an angry elf, that's suicide!" It seemed that he was right because the next second Maedd pounced on him and began to beat on him. Ron tried to push him off without hurting Maedd but the elf was half mad now and that gave him extra strength.

"This is all your fault!" Maedd yelled, "They were following your orders, they're dead because of you!" Ron struggled to push him off but he had no luck, until several pairs of hands grabbed Maedd and forcefully pulled him off Ron. Earithramir, Legolas, and Isaldur dragged Maedd away, with him kicking and screaming all manner of things at Ron. Elrond and another elf, one of the healers helped him up and over to his bed. Ron didn't move to help or hinder them; he seemed to be in a kind of shock.

Elrond looked the boy over, he had a split lip, a bruised jaw, and he hissed in pain when his chest was touched. As Glorfindel pulled a curtain around the bed for privacy he pull the robe up to see the damage of his chest. He sighed softly as he saw the bruises to Ron's chest and ribcage. He checked them carefully; thankfully they were just badly bruised, not broken. The wounds would heal, but his mental state was worrying, he was taking a lot in at once; to lose a friend like that may be his breaking point. Elrond quickly cleaned him up and was about to leave but he hesitated, he didn't want to leave Ron alone like this, it could inhibit his healing and he could fall into depression. Just then Cilath arrived, her eyes filled with concern for the red head. Elrond felt a smile pull at his lips; those two were the only ones oblivious to the way they felt for the other. She sat down on the side of the bed and stroked the side of his face gently. He looked at her blankly, clearly not seeing her at all. She looked at Elrond with worried eyes. She had tear tracks on her cheeks and her eyes were a little red. But other then that you wouldn't have known she was in pain. He sighed softly and said

"Cilath, will you stay with him? Talk to him, sing, just keep going." She nodded and took Ron's hand holding it in her two. Elrond left to try and calm Maedd down and make him see reason.

'Mission impossible!' he thought to himself glumly.

Cilath sighed as Ron continued to stare through her. Gently she helped him lie down, softly stroking his face to try and soothe him to sleep. He curled up into a protective ball and closed his eyes. She watched as his lips parted and he whispered

"Amin hireatha." (I'm sorry) She felt tears welling up again but forced them back and began to sing softly.

A Elbereth Gilthoniel

Silivren penna miriel

O menel aglar elenath!

Na-chaered palan-diriel

O galadhremmin ennorath

Fanuilos, le linnathon

Nef aear, si nef aearon.

As she sang many looked at her, it was rare to hear Cilath sing, as it was with Prince Legolas, and they both had the most amazing voices, even for elves an inheritance of being from Mirkwood. Her uncle watched her from the shadows, a light smile on his lips, as he watched his niece care for the young edan. He had been watching Ron closely and had seen that there was something inside him that he kept silent about, some part of him he was ashamed of but Legolas knew he had a right to feel as such. He had subtly questioned Professors Dumbledore, Mc Gonagall and Snape as well as Remus Lupin. They had told him about Ron's brothers, his sister and his friends. He got the feeling Ron had been overshadowed most of his life, by one person or another, making him feel like there was no point in striving to achieve anything. But here it was all new and undiscovered, giving the boy a chance to really strive for his potential. Legolas didn't like that Ron had to go through so much just to prove himself to everyone in his family and school. Sighing he left the Healing room, in his head thinking of ways to cheer the people of Rivendell up. A good prank on Glorfindel usually did the trick…

Most of the injured soldiers had only received superficial wounds and were sent home, a couple had to stay the night under observation, Kinthia had been the only casualty and only Cer had been taken. Ron had been asleep for many hours now but Cilath had remain. She yawned lightly, she was tired, the fighting had worn her out. She didn't want to leave Ron though. He had rolled over in his sleep and stretched out. She bit her lip softly debating with herself. Finally deciding it could do no harm she lay down on the bed beside him, her eyes almost instantly glazing over in elven sleep.

Ron woke up the next morning but didn't open his eyes, he rolled over snuggling into the blanket. His hand landed on someone else's hand and his eyes flew open. Cilath was lying beside him, asleep, her eyes open and glazed. He stared at her in surprise wondering what she was doing in his room, let alone his bed. Then he looked around and saw he was in the healing wing, and like being struck with lightening, he remembered all that had happened yesterday. He sucked in the air as he replayed Cer's demise in his mind, and the Maedd's fury at him. The elf's words echoed in his ear,

"They were following your orders, they're dead because of you!"

'My fault, my orders, my fault.' he thought numbly, 'What the hell was Elrond and Dumbledore thinking? I can't even keep my people alive!' He was so upset that he didn't notice that he had referred to the elves as 'my people'. Suddenly he narrowed his eyes. That Goa'uld. He'd looked so familiar. Why? He'd never seen a Goa'uld before then… except in his dreams! That was it! He was the one he'd seen in his dream the night he'd arrived at Rivendell. He should have remembered! Was that a pure coincidence? He doubted it. Cilath stirred slightly, but didn't wake. He looked at her noticing her flawless features, the high cheekbones, it was like some one had carved her face from white marble, and then brought her to life. Her blue eyes, though glazed, were a world of their own. He found his eyes drawn again to her full red lips. They looked very inviting. Cilath blinked and stirred again. Her eyes came into focus and she met his own eyes. They stared at each other for many moments then she sat up slowly, stretching calmly although Ron could have sworn he saw a tinge of pink in her cheeks.

"Is it too weird to say good morning now?" he asked sitting up and leaning back then wincing and gently touching his chest, which ached like hell. Cilath saw this and said

"Your ribs were bruised yesterday." by way of explaination.

"Why do I have a feeling it wasn't the fault of the orcs?" Ron sighed.

"Because it wasn't."

"Maedd." he whispered softly, closing his eyes. Cilath reached out and began to gently run her fingers through his hair, it felt so nice. "Is he in trouble?"

"No, we know it was because of grief that he attacked you, at the moment I think lord Elrond is still trying to calm him down." Ron nodded

"Good, I probably deserved what he gave me." Cilath sighed and took his chin in her fingers and made him look at her. She shook her head slightly

"No, you didn't, Maedd was hurt and angry, but that doesn't mean that you are to blame, death is a part of war, a part of life."

"Not for you. You're immortal, you live forever, death is an unknown to you."

"Not completely, elves may live forever, but we are no stranger to death, even in the Undying lands." She let her hand drop. "We have always known death, but it's hard to accept an immortal being has been conquered by it, but at times it is a relief. That person may have been fading into nothingness and grief, the choice of death can sometimes be a way of saving someone or spare them from suffering." Ron closed his eyes again, letting her words take root in his mind, she was right, and he made a promise, that if Cer couldn't be freed… then he, Ron, would kill him and end his pain. Suddenly Cilath's soft hand cupped the side of his face and he felt her lips brush his softly. He leaned to her and deepened the kiss, pressing their lips together. His hand gently held the side of her head, his fingers working their way through her silky hair. She ran her tongue along his lips and then slipped it into his mouth. Ron held back a soft groan as she massaged his tongue with her own.

"Ahem!" came a soft cough. They pulled apart instantly looking around to see Earithramir staring at them, a knowing smile on his lips.

"Feeling better Ron." It was more of a statement then a question. Ron flushed bright red and looked down. They stood or sat in an uncomfortable silence then Earithramir said "Looks like I won the bet." Cilath's head snapped up her eyes narrowing,

"Bet?" she asked testily, "What bet?" Ron stared at Earithramir suspiciously as he suddenly looked sheepish,

"Well see me, Lomli, the twins and a few others had bet on how it would take you two to finally admit that you liked each other. I said today, so I won." Both were now glaring at him and he decided to make a quick exit. "Uh… Bye!" He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, Cilath hot on his heels after giving Ron a smile that said "We'll talk after I kill him." Ron shook his head and touched his lips softly with his fingertips. Had he really just kissed Cilath? It was like he was in some kind of dream, but his painful ribs told him he was wide-awake. Just then a healer came over to him and after looking him over said,

"I see no reason for you to not be released, but if you feel any pain feel free to return and someone will help you." Ron thanked him and changed into the clothes that he was given, a black pair of trousers and black tunic, they were to mark that they were in mourning for Kinthia and Cer. Ron felt a lump in his throat as he put them on. The curtains were drawn over the bed that held Kinthia's body. After looking around to be sure no one was looking, as he wasn't sure if he was allowed or not, he slipped under the curtain. A pure white sheet covered her, even her face. Gently he pulled it away and bit his tongue to keep back the sobs that welled up in his chest. Kinthia's once perfect face was now bruised and a bit battered, although the healers had cleaned her up for the funeral. He studied her closely; she was the only elf he'd ever known to have brown skin, light brown, but brown none the less. It had given her an exotic look when coupled with her large brown eyes and brown hair. At the moment she looked peaceful and Ron was glad, he wanted her to find peace. Touching her cheek he shuddered at how cold she was.

"Kinthia." he whispered, "I don't understand, why you? Why did the Valar let Maedd loose the two most important people in his life?" He then remembered when Kinthia had kissed him, what was that supposed to mean? Had she not loved Maedd like he loved her? They were supposed to marry next year. Ron couldn't make sense of it. He sighed and replaced the sheet, then slipped out of the room and hurried to his room where he would have some peace for a while at least.

"Earithramir stop running this instant!" cried Cilath as she chased him out into the garden. She caught up with him and grabbed the scruff of his neck and brought him to an ungraceful standstill. He smiled at her brightly and said

"What on Arda is the matter, dear Cilath?" she glared at him and said

"How dare you and the others make such a wager on Ron and me!" he held his hands up submissively, saying hastily

"I was joking, I was trying to cheer Ron up, although you seemed to be doing fine on your own." Cilath blushed and let go of him. "Look I'm upset about Cer and Kinthia, as are you, but we've gotten used to it, or at least as used to it as we can be, Ron isn't yet, he doesn't know how to put a death behind him, especially one that happened under his command, he takes his job very seriously, and while he needs to, this means that every death is going to hit him hard until he learns to grieve and move on. I was only trying to make things a bit easier for him." Cilath sighed and sat down. Earithramir sat beside her, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders, she rested her head against his shoulder.

"I'm so worried about him, I don't know if he can cope with everything, it's all happening at once."

"He is strong Cilath, and he has us, his friends to help him through this." She gave him a watery smile and he asked suddenly "Do you love him?" she straightened up at the question a thoughtful expression on her face. Then slowly it melted into a smile again and she nodded. Earithramir grinned and said, getting her in a playful chokehold "Then tell him stupid, that'll cheer him up good and proper!"

"But what if it's too soon or he doesn't feel the same?" she asked fretfully looking at him anxiously.

"Mellon nin, trust me, he may be a bit surprised at first, but he'll come around and tell you the same, it's obvious, every time he looks at you."

"You think so?" she asked softly,

"You're talking to the love expert here Cilath." he smirked puffing out his chest. Cilath rolled her eyes and said

"Well if you're the love expert then why have all your relationships failed?" Earithramir seemed to deflate before her eyes and he said,

"That's just what happens, I want it to last and it doesn't, but with Lomli… I, I think, this is the real thing Cilath, I honestly do, everything feels so easy with him." She smiled gently, if Earithramir really thought this was the real thing, then she knew it was, and she was happy for him. She just hoped they'd still be able to talk, even though she and him were different genders it never seemed to cause a problem when they talked about relationships, in fact it gave them better insight and understanding. Earithramir was her best and oldest friend, almost like her brother. She gave him a hug and said

"If you're happy, then I'm glad." Then she sobered up and looked sad and angry at herself, "Look at me!" she cried, "I'm worrying about my love life while poor Maedd is mad with grief after loosing his brother and his love!" Earithramir frowned and said,

"At the moment there is nothing we can do, Ci-Ci! Elrond and Glorfindel gave him a tea to make him sleep otherwise he might have tried to kill Ron during the night." Cilath groaned, at both the thought of Maedd attacking Ron again and at the old nickname Earithramir had called her.

"When's the funeral?"

"Tonight, Kinthia always said that if she died she wanted to be buried at night under the moon, just like a Ithil'quessir." (Moon elf) Cilath nodded slightly, Kinthia had always loved the night, she was a descendant of the Ithil'quessir, or Moon elves, who had celebrated the moons life, lived by the moon's year and other things like that.

"And we will have a ceremony for Cer, to plead with the Valar to spare him as much pain as possible." They both shuddered at the thought, there had only been one successful removing of a symbiote and the elf had been too traumatised to live, fading away into grief after only a week of freedom. Even if they could get Cer back, removing a symbiote was near impossible, because the symbiote could terminate its and the hosts life at will, thus taking away any chance they had at bringing the poor host some kind of peace.

"Come, we had better go and help get things ready." said Earithramir briskly, all business now. He stood up and extended a hand to Cilath to help her up. She shook her head and said

"I think I'll stay outside for a while." Earithramir nodded and left her alone. She waited till he was gone before standing and climbing up the large willow tree she loved. She settled herself on a branch, near the top with her back against the trunk. She drew her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. She rested her chin on her knees and allowed her thoughts to drift.

"Kinthia! Look out!" She drew in her breath sharply as she recalled the last moments of her friend's life.

"Cilath!" Her friend had called out for her and she'd tried to reach her but she wasn't quick enough.

(Flashback)

The Jaffa had shot her once with the Zat'nikatel and was about to shoot her again. Cilath struggled to get to her, to protect her. Kinthia came around and blinked blearily, her eyes widened as she saw the Jaffa ready to shoot. She rolled over narrowly missing the second blast. But as she struggled to her feet another Jaffa shot her, killing her instantly. Cilath froze in horror, no it couldn't be!

"Cilath move!" called Lomli pushing her to the side to avoid a staff blast. It just missed them.

(End Flashback)

Cilath let her tears roll down her cheeks unhindered. She should have be able to reach her, they'd been less then three feet apart! She'd just been too slow.

"Cilath?" Looking up she saw her uncle looking down on her with care and concern.

"Uncle!" she exclaimed surprised, "What are you doing here?" Legolas climbed down to the branch she sat on and crouched down to meet her eyes with his.

"I was just pondering on how to cheer you and everyone else up, my main idea is to prank Glorfindel, but I'm not sure, maybe the twins would be better, what do you think?" he said this with a small smile, while she rolled her eyes fondly,

"Do both, that's better." Legolas cocked his head to the side slightly and then nodded,

"Good idea." He chuckled softly, then went serious as he looked at her. He gently pushed some hair behind her ear and said with fatherly concern, "Are you alright?" Cilath gave him a pointed look, "I mean it Cilath, what's bothering you?" She dropped her gaze and felt him sit beside her. She shifted and then said softly,

"I should have done something, I was right beside her the whole time and, and-"

"You must have done all you could, Cilath this is what happens in war, and believe me there is always going to be those 'what ifs' but if you keep thinking about them then you'll fade away. And what would that do? It would crush me, Earithramir… and Ron." She looked at him sharply narrowing her eyes,

"What have you-"

"I have heard nothing, however Cilath you really need to learn the art of subtlety." Legolas chuckled as her cheeks flushed. She shook her head, her emotions were changing faster then the minutes were passing. Legolas nodded, as if reading her mind "These days are like that." he winked at her then patted her knee and jumped down from the tree. She sighed and followed him there was a lot to do to get ready for the funeral.