Chapter Twenty-Bad News First…
Elrond glanced at Mithrandir and then looked me straight in the eye. "Mithrandir and I have been discussing what happened to you this morning, and we have come to a decision," he intoned.
"Yes Lady Karyn. Lord Elrond and I believe you would be safer if you did not mention what caused your fainting spell. You may have come under the scrutiny of the Dark Lord, and we cannot allow you to fall into enemy hands," Mithrandir voiced.
I felt a tingle of alarm run through me, "What exactly do you mean, come under the scrutiny of the Dark Lord?"
"Do not be afraid Lady Karyn, for you will be safe here in Imladris. However, you must not speak of the reason for what happened this morning as we do not know if all are to be trusted. It is imperative no one other than Mithrandir and I know the cause," Elrond cautioned.
"Okay, but you still haven't explained the whole Dark Lord noticing me thingy," I said.
Mithrandir smiled warmly at me, "We feared because you are from a different world and have these abilities, your energy may've registered with Sauron. However, Elrond can mask your presence as long as you stay within Imladris and do not let anyone else know what you can do. The Enemy has infiltrated many places and you have no defence against it without the assistance of the elves."
That tension I had felt in the room when I had entered? It was now sitting deep in my back, right where the rhomboid major and trapezius muscles attach to the scapula. Damn, I needed a massage. Or a really long needle filled with muscle relaxant. Both, if I gave it a lot of thought.
I looked at both people and said, "Okay, but what if things get all wiggy again? What do we do if it happens in front of everybody?"
"If things get wiggy, as you call it, we will deal with the situation as it demands. I do not believe that, should another occurrence happen, it will get out of hand," Elrond stated.
"What about Glorfindel? I mean, I work with him quite closely, and I totally don't want to lie to him. What do I say if something happens with him around?" I wanted to cover my bases.
"We will deal with that if it happens. Please don't worry Lady Karyn, Lord Elrond and I will assist you in any way we can," Mithrandir reassured me.
"Mithrandir, I think we shall have to advise Glorfindel of Lady Karyn's situation when you leave Imladris," Elrond reminded him.
"What? You're leaving? No, no, no, you can't go! What on earth is going on here?" I demanded.
Mithrandir took my hand that was waving in the air, "A group of us will be leaving Imladris in two months to complete a quest. I must go with them to guide the group and see the quest through."
"Do you know who else will go?" I asked.
"Right now, just Frodo and Sam, but we will decide who else should go in the coming days," Mithrandir said.
Frodo and Sam were leaving too? I hoped they weren't going to be in any danger. Frodo needed to be protected, not put in harm's way.
"Good Lord, this is…ahhh! I don't know. I feel so…Man, good time for language to fail me," I finished lamely.
Mithrandir chuckled, "You will be fine. Now, why don't you go have a sit down in the west garden? I believe the fresh air will do you some good. Go now, Lord Elrond and I have things to discuss." He waved his hands, shooing me away.
I got up from the couch and nodded to Mithrandir and Elrond and left the room. Mithrandir seemed insistent on my going to the west garden, so I followed his advice and walked into the garden, chose a bench under a tree and sat down. I watched birds flying up in the sky, and breathed in the crisp autumn air. Leaves, loamy soil and the scent of smoke from the kitchens hung heavy in the breeze. My eyes grew heavy and I leaned back against the trunk of the tree, letting myself fall into a tranquil state. I sat like that for some time when I felt a presence come to stand by me. I opened my eyes and looked up at Glorfindel, who was looking at me like a man who hadn't seen food in many days.
"Good afternoon Lord Glorfindel. How are you today?" I felt his scrutiny acutely.
"Lady Karyn," he acknowledged, "May I sit?" he asked.
"Please do," I moved over to give him room.
Glorfindel was still staring at me, "I was worried when I had heard Lord Boromir had found you unconscious in the south garden. Do you know what happened?"
I remembered what Elrond and Mithrandir told me, but I was reticent to lie to Glorfindel because I had a feeling he'd know. Plus, Elrond and Mithrandir were going to tell Glorfindel anyways, I just wasn't sure if I should hint at the truth.
"I got a little ill and dizzy, but Elrond has helped me and I feel much better now. Just a little tired, that's all," I explained. I wasn't lying, I really had fallen ill and dizzy, and I just withheld the reason why.
Glorfindel scrutinized me closely, deciding something before he spoke. "I know I do not have the right to ask this of you, but I feel somewhat responsible for your safety. I would like for you to please tell me if something like this happens to you again, or if you feel ill in any way. I do not wish for anything unacceptable to happen to you," he declared.
My heart tugged as I read into his words, "Do you feel responsible for my safety, or did my illness scare you?"
Glorfindel looked away. "I do not know," he admitted.
My heart lurched. "I will tell you. I promise," I said solemnly.
Glorfindel took my hand in his and sat back, sharing the tree trunk with me. We sat like that for quite a long time, until we heard the supper bell ring. Getting up from the bench, we walked to the meal hall, Glorfindel opening the door for me, and went and sat down at an empty table.
While we quietly ate, the hobbits spotted me and ran over to our table to join us. They were a bundle of excitement and nerves. Jumping all over the benches and talking while chewing on food that they had brought over when they had spotted me.
"Lady Karyn, Lady Karyn! We heard what happened to you! Are you all right?" Pip asked breathlessly.
"Lady Karyn, why did you faint? Are you sick again?" Merry questioned me.
I held up my hands for peace, "I'm much better now. I just felt ill and dizzy and I passed out. No big deal. I'm going to go to bed early tonight and hopefully that will knock the stuffing out of whatever came over me."
"You need to get better so you can join us back in the gardens working," Sam said sincerely, "We've missed you."
"Yes," said Frodo, "I would like to continue our evening exercises. That meditation is quite relaxing you know."
"Yes Frodo, it is," I agreed.
Glorfindel stepped in, "However, for this evening, Lady Karyn will be retiring early to rest." His look brooked no argument and with that, the hobbits settled down.
"All right, all right. Let's give Lady Karyn some peace now," Bilbo chuckled, "We'll see you tomorrow, right Lady Karyn?"
"Yes, I will see you at breakfast. I will need to be up and about as the dwarves will be leaving soon and I need to see to their needs for travel," I explained.
The hobbits all nodded, and picking up their plates they said their goodbyes, moving back off to their table. Once the furor had died down, I gave a sigh of relief and finished my meal quickly. Glorfindel helped me up from the table, not that I required any assistance, and we walked out of the hall to my room. Glorfindel looked up and down the halls surreptitiously before he opened my door for me. I bit back a smile as I noticed his tiny surveillance of the hall. We walked into my room and Glorfindel went over to the fireplace to stoke my fire. He stood up and brushed some imaginary soot off his hands.
"If it is all right with you Lady Karyn, I should like to stay and ensure your safety tonight. I will rest in the chair," he requested.
I smiled, "Lord Glorfindel, I am fine. I do not want to cause an issue for you, should you be found in my room." Not that I minded him staying, but I also didn't want him to get all kinked up in that chair. I wasn't sure Elves could get stiff backs and necks, but I didn't want to test the theory.
A shadow crossed Glorfindel's face, but disappeared as quickly as it came. "My lady, please. Should you become ill again, I would feel more comfortable being by your side to see to your needs, than to find out later and be unable to help."
"Good sir, so you are saying it really is not for my comfort, but for your own sense of security?" I wanted to have him admit to something deeper, but I wasn't sure I should push.
"Yes, my lady. I do not wish to find out someone else came to your aid, when I feel it should be me assisting you," he admitted.
Oh, there it was. He didn't like the fact that Boromir found me. He wanted to be the hero, or at least be the main support for me. Odd how human traits could also be present in beings that were unlike humans in so many ways.
I paused, "Lord Glorfindel, while it would comfort me to have you by my side, I could not possibly allow you to sleep in a horrible chair. I could not abide your discomfort."
Glorfindel's face glowed a little more than usual. "Lady Karyn, I will be fine in the chair. Please allow me to stay."
I looked at him dubiously, "I don't know. I would feel terrible about being all comfy-cozy and you sitting there freezing your butt off."
"I will bring in a cot, so you may sleep in peace knowing I am comfortable," he amended.
I wasn't sure, but I decided to acquiesce, "Okay, fine. You'd better be stealthy when you bring up that cot. I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. I won't have your reputation mucked up because of me."
Glorfindel bowed and clasped my hand, bringing it to his lips in a soft kiss. "I will let you change and ready for bed, and then I will come in after you have fallen asleep," he said.
"All right, but don't forget the cot. I seriously do not want you to sleep in that chair," I sternly advised.
Glorfindel nodded, "I will take my leave of you then. Sleep well, and I will watch over you." He walked to the door, opened it and left my room.
The glow that always seems to linger around Glorfindel left with him, and the room became a little duller. The fire roared a little less brightly and the dark corners seemed to loom. I quickly got undressed and into my nightgown, brushing my teeth quickly and washing my face in the washbasin. Climbing under the covers of my bed, I turned down the lamp beside my bed, and lay down to sleep.
I awoke near midnight. Looking over, I saw Glorfindel sitting in the chair, no cot in sight. I sleepily called to Glorfindel, who awoke quickly from his light reverie.
"Lord Glorfindel, you are not sleeping in a cot. Why? I cannot sleep if you are sitting up like some marble statue."
"My lady," he said softly, "I could not bring a cot into your room without causing a scene, so I decided to rest in the chair. I assure you it is fine."
"Nope," I slid my legs over the side of my bed, pushing myself up with my arm, "C'mon. You're getting in here and staying warm. It's bloody freezing in here, and I won't have you catch your death in the cold." I patted the mattress beside me.
Glorfindel gave a slight smile, "Elves do not catch cold my lady. I am fine."
"Nope. Not kidding here. I seriously won't be able to sleep if you're out there in the cold. You're getting into this bed if I have to drag you in myself," I intoned.
Glorfindel raised an eyebrow, "And how do you propose to accomplish that? I am quite heavy and you are recently recovering from a bout of illness."
"Ah, you haven't been introduced to stubborn Karyn yet, have you?" I padded over to the chair, "I will get you into this bed if it's the last thing I do."
I pulled Glorfindel up to his feet, and then bent forward to pick him up in a fireman's carry. Glorfindel just pasted this amused look to his face and made no move to help me. He didn't hinder me either, so I'll count my blessings. I'm not the strongest woman in the world, so the fireman's carry wasn't exactly working out for me. I stood up again and surveyed the situation. Deciding physics would work in my favour if I used a victim drag; I walked behind him, pushing the chair back with my legs, and slid my arms under his, clasping them at the front. I locked my fingers together and knocked the backs of his knees with my knees. He dropped a bit into my arms and I swung him around as quick as I could and dragged him backwards to the bed. I flopped back onto the bed and then pushed him over to his side. Getting up, I grabbed his legs and pulled them onto the bed. He was bent in an odd pretzel shape, amused smile still pasted to his face, and I heard a slight 'oof', as I clambered up on the bed and twisted his upper body straight. I rolled him a little further to the other side and then moved to his feet to take off his shoes.
"Are you quite done?" he asked, smile growing on his face as I pulled off each shoe.
"Nope. You're not under the covers yet, so hang tight," I huffed.
Pulling the covers down under his body with small jerks, I managed to get them far enough down so I could draw the covers up over his body. Finishing, I gave a huff of air and collapsed on the bed beside him.
"There. Now I'm done. You can go to sleep and thank me in the morning," I climbed under the covers, my exertion having worn me out, and pulled the pillow under my chin. "Goodnight Lord Glorfindel." I mumbled.
"Goodnight Lady Karyn," was the amused response. I heard a slight chuckle as I fell back to sleep.
I am sure Glorfindel slept much better under the covers than that cold drafty chair. I know I did.