Chapter Thirteen-Something Wicked This Way Comes

When I showed up for my stint in the garden, I was a bit apprehensive, wondering if anyone had overheard my emotional confession. I'm not in the habit of telling people intimate details about myself. In the past any revelations were met with derision and castigation. Not a big incentive to flap my gums. No one seemed to notice my emotional state, nor did they treat me any differently. I breathed an inward sigh of relief. I kept my head down and worked hard, trying not to think about anything in particular. The time seemed to pass slowly, but that could be due to me wondering incessantly when the hell I could get out of there.

Finally I was done and I scurried off to get cleaned up and change for work in the kitchen. Walking to my room, I bumped into Melima.

"Suilad Melima!" I said, happy to see her.

Melima nodded to me and returned the greeting. My Elvish language lessons had not progressed to being able to hold a conversation, but I could understand simple phrases and get the basic gist. Melima said something about me not being needed in the kitchen, but I wasn't absolutely sure.

"No kitchen today?" I asked in stilted Elvish, pointing to myself and then in the direction of the kitchens.

Melima nodded, "Yes, do not go to the kitchens. You are free for the rest of the afternoon."

I totally got the 'free for the rest of the afternoon' bit. I thanked her and walked off to my room to get cleaned up and take a walk around the grounds. I was wandering down by the road near the entrance of Imladris when a large white horse raced past me, the rider hunched over a large bundle, golden hair streaming out behind him. I knew that hair! Glorfindel had come back! I took off running down the road after him.

I ran into the courtyard, panting hard as I had sprinted down the last 100 yards, to see Glorfindel striding off in the direction of the healing rooms with the large bundle in his arms. A small limp arm fell out of the cloth, and I realized there was a boy in his arms. I followed as quickly as I could and managed to walk into the infirmary just as one of the elves who worked there ran out. I walked up to Glorfindel and stood beside him, trying to catch my breath.

"Hey," I gasped unsteadily, "What's going on?"

Glorfindel turned his head towards me, "Good afternoon Lady Karyn. I have just brought in a wounded hobbit." He motioned towards the boy on the bed being attended by several elves.

"Oh, okay. What's a hobbit?" I looked closer at the boy and realized he had rather large feet, covered in hair, and looked older than I had originally thought. He was deathly pale and his eyes were sunken and glassy. It looked really bad.

Glorfindel looked at me, "He is a hobbit. They are the little folk and they live in the Shire. Have you never seen one before?"

"No. Well, maybe midgets, except it's impolite to call them that. They prefer names like 'little people', or 'vertically challenged'." I looked at the hobbit, "What happened to him? He looks really awful."

Glorfindel sighed, "He was attacked by the Nazgûl. His life force is draining away and soon he will become one of them."

Nazgûl? I thought Elrohir said the Black Riders were out on the prowl.

"What do you mean Nazgûl? I heard about Black Riders." 'Scuze me if I was a bit confused. I seriously didn't remember that much about the book. What? I was twelve! I'm lucky I remembered a few names.

"They are one and the same. The Race of Men calls them Black Riders. They are servants of Sauron, corrupted by Sauron's nine rings. They feel the call of the One Ring, and they want to claim it for Sauron." Glorfindel looked very serious and I felt my mood dampen.

"I'm sorry Lord Glorfindel. I wish I knew what to say or do to help you feel better about this situation, but unfortunately I don't. Just know, I'm here for whatever you need. Just ask, I'll make it happen." I clasped his hand in mine and looked into his eyes.

He looked deeply into mine and smiled gently, "Thank you for your kindness Lady Karyn. These are dark times indeed, and I may well ask you for your assistance upon occasion."

Okay, is it wrong to get giddy over what just happened? Cuz I was feeling a serious case of the happies. I cleared my throat just as Elrond came rushing through the door.

"Where is the young hobbit?" He questioned hurriedly.

Glorfindel pointed to the bed that the young hobbit lay upon and said, "He has taken a wound by a Morgul blade. He will soon pass into the shadow if we cannot save him quickly."

Elrond nodded and set to work, while Glorfindel led me out of the room so Elrond could work in peace.

"Come for a walk with me, I need to breathe the fresh air." Glorfindel's voice was heavy with emotion.

I took his arm and went outside with him in silence. We walked through the gardens without speaking a word for at least an hour. He just breathed deeply and looked at the foliage. I held his hand in mine and felt his pain. I felt a deep sadness and worry emanating from him, so I sent him all my compassion and love. I knew speaking would be an empty and unwanted gesture.

The supper bell rang and we walked into the dining hall, sitting down at an empty table. No one else came to sit with us, and we ate our meal in silence. I looked around, but Elrond was nowhere to be seen. The entire time we were in the hall, he never made an appearance. I had the feeling Elrond would not be eating for some time to come, as the hobbit looked very bad. When we finished our meal I stood up and looked down at Glorfindel.

"I want to bring some food to the healing rooms for Lord Elrond and the other healers. I don't think they'll get to eat anytime soon and I want to make sure they don't work themselves into a dead faint." I moved over to the kitchen doors with Glorfindel following me.

"That is a good idea. I will assist you." He walked into the kitchens and asked for a tray of food to be prepared for Elrond and the other healers.

When it was ready, he picked it up and I grabbed a pitcher of wine and a pitcher of water to take with us. We made our way back to the infirmary. Pushing the door open, we entered a scene of quiet desperation. Elves were hurrying about in silence and Elrond was bent over the hobbit applying something to his wound and whispering words I couldn't quite hear. I put the pitchers on an empty table by the door and Glorfindel set down the tray of food beside them.

"Umm, sorry to bother you Lord Elrond, but when you have a moment there's some food and drink over here. Please make sure you eat, because I don't want you to get sick too." I turned to go out the door when I heard his voice.

"Thank you Lady Karyn." Lord Elrond went back to his murmuring.

Glorfindel walked out of the room with me and took my hand, "Thank you Lady Karyn. I know they will eat when they have a moment." His raised my hand to his lips and kissed it gently, "I will take my leave from you now. Thank you for your company this afternoon." He strode away.

I went up to my room to get into my workout clothes and go for my evening exercise. The remainder of my evening was spent alone in the garden practicing my yoga and meditating.