The Twisted Web of Fate

by Sinister Sindar Sisters

Thranduil and his young son travel to a trade meeting very soon after the death of their wife and mother. Unknown to them, darkness follows them. Will they survive and make it back to their beloved home alive?

13. Chapter 13

The Twisted Web of Fate. 10B?

(Gwî Norn Ned Amarth)

By the Sinister Sindar Sisters (M. Cross and B. Kennedy)

We broke this chapter into three parts because it wound up being about 117 pages long. This site is getting impossible to work with. We've tried for several days to get this posted. It keeps eating our edits, especially punctuations, if not the entire upload. Grrrrrrr - Barbara

Disclaimer: Try as we might, we still don't own any part of the wondrous world created by the genius of J.R.R. Tolkien, so we just visit it and borrow a few characters for these stories. We write them for our own entertainment and we surely don't make any money off them.

Rating: PG13 Action/adventure/angst (hurt/care)

Feedback: Yes please………….

Spoilers: Well, surely for LOTR

Summary: Thranduil and his young son must travel to a trade meeting very soon after the death of their Wife and Mother. Unknown to them, dire danger and darkness follows them. Will they both survive to return to their beloved home alive?

WARNINGS – Lots of angst and hurt/care throughout this story.

Shell is a stickler for medical accuracy. There are more graphic injury descriptions here, may be disturbing to some.

Tissue warning - You might want a couple close to hand. You never know.

We are aware we seem to be repeating the same story to different characters, but they need to be told what is happening too. We try to mix it with lots of new stuff.

The story is Alternate Universe to begin with, though heavily structured on Middle Earth history, research and medical fact. Enjoy the show. It's all for fun anyway.

Sindarin vocabulary…………………………………….

(References: Dragon Flame and Encyclopedia of Arda)

Adar, ada - father, dad

Amarth – fate, doom

Anor – Sun

Aran, Aran-nin - King, my King

Ardhon, Arda - the world

Caun - Prince

DaerAda, DaerNana – (roughly) Grandfather, Grandmother

Elenath sila am le! - Stars shine upon you!

Elleth, ellith – elf-maiden, elf-maidens

Ellon, ellyn – elf, elves (male)

Elrondionnath – sons of Elrond

Fea - soul, spirit

Gwador – brother

Gwanur – 1. pair of twins 2. brother or kinsman, kinswoman

Gwathel - sister

Gweth - manhood

Gwî – web

Hannon le – Thank you

Hennad - thanks

Hir, Hir-nin - Lord, my Lord

Hithlain – 'mist-thread' a substance used by the elves of Lothlórien to make strong ropes

Iaur - old

Imladris – Rivendell

Ion-nin – my son

Irmo – Vala of dreams and visions (also known as Lórien)

Lhaew hûn nestadren salab - digitalis, foxglove (My made-up Sindarin name, literally - ill heart healing herb)

Meleth – (My) love

Melethron – (my) lover (masc.)

Mellon-iaur – old friend

Mellon-nin, mellyn-nin - my friend, my friends

Namarie – Farewell
Námo – true name of the Valar Mandos

Ned - of

Norn – twisted

Olórin – The Maia (Istari) Mithrandir, Gandalf, his 'true' name

Penneth – Young one

Saes - Please

Sîdh - peace

Suilad – Hail or Greetings

Yrch - orcs

/ text / indicates though, dream or visions

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

- Chapter ten C –

(recap of last bit…)

They were just beginning to break camp a short time later when a small blanketed mound gave a twitch and then groaned.

Bremoline hurried over to check on the Elf. Perhaps he was finally waking as well? "Easy, Glorfindel, you have been sleeping..." He heard another groan as Bremoline realised that all was not well with the Balrog-Slayer.

/It was dark, all he could see was an awful deep blackness that scared him. Hah! How many of his friends and colleagues would believe that? But it was the simple truth. He was afraid./

/A flare of flame seemed to light up the area suddenly, but it died just as quickly, leaving him more worried than before./

/He tried to increase his glow so that he could see more of the area surrounding him. He failed... spectacularly, for the first time in his long life. If anything, the darkness seemed to wrap around him even tighter./

/By Elbereth! What had caused this? One moment he had been walking in the green forests and then... he was here, where ever 'here' was./

/A deep rumbling growl sounded from behind him and he whirled, his hand reaching for the sword that was always at his side, but he felt nothing there. For the first time since he was an Elfling, he was unarmed. He reached for his ever-present bow upon his back and that was missing as well. He did not even have the small knife he used at meal times. He was never unarmed! He even slept with a knife under his pillow after... after... he shivered and made himself withdraw from that thought./

/The growl sounded again, deeper and nearer. If he had to take a guess, he would have said it was a Warg. He turned to look for something to use as a weapon, but there was nothing he could see./

/The growl was nearer this time and made the hair at the nape of his neck stand fully on end./

/A scream shattered the silence in the otherwise quiet cave. He knew it was a cave. He just did not know how he knew it was a cave./

/Heart hammering, he looked around once more. Did he hear breathing? Was there someone else here/

/He moved slowly until his foot brushed something. Rocks. He crouched down to feel. The floor was littered with rocks of differing sizes. They may not be much, but they were a better weapon than the sand that trickled through his fingers. With luck, a well-thrown rock could cause a lot of damage./

/He chose a few by feel alone, weighing them and discarding others, until he was happy with the ones he held. Raising his right arm, he readied himself to help the other poor unfortunate who was trapped with whatever fell creature he had heard.../

Bremoline looked worriedly around to Gailarphen, but his back was to him and Bremoline was not really sure that what was happening here warranted his assistance.

"Glorfindel? Come now, Mellon-nin, wake up." Bremoline gently shook his shoulder, the uninjured one. It garnered no reaction. "Glorfindel! We need you to wake up!"

All Bremoline got was another moan, but it sounded like a moan of agony. Bremoline had not moved his hand from Glorfindel's shoulder and he could feel the tremors that ran through the muscles of the blonde Elf beneath him. He was becoming more worried by the minute.

"Glorfindel, I need you to wake up!" All he received was another moan.

He reached up to brush the curtain of golden hair away from the pale face. Glorfindel even seemed to be in pain and it worried Bremoline even more.

"Gailarphen, I need your help here. Something is wrong with Glorfindel!" There was a sudden hush over the camp as they all turned to gaze at the Mirkwood Captain.

/He was suddenly surrounded by a furnace blast of heat. Sweat had begun to run down his face and dripped almost in time to the thudding of his heart. He was positive that he had heard more than two sources of breathing here./

/He edged back until his back came against rough rock and then he began slowly edging his way in the direction of the source of the sounds./

/Another scream shattered the suddenly thick air. It was getting harder to breathe. The other voice sounded even more panicked and he surged forward in one great rush… into suddenly blinding light./

/Glorfindel stopped with a suddenness that made his hair swirl around him into his face. What he saw was not what he expected. He honestly had expected a Warg. But this... this was from some distant horrible nightmare./

/The light flared again and he could feel the air around him almost boil. In the dark cavern that opened out in front of him was a fully-grown dragon belching out flames. Close in front of the fell creature was an Elleth chained to a stake, screaming with terror./

/Glorfindel dropped the rocks, his hands suddenly numb. This was... was.../

/The Elleth screamed even louder as the dragon lazily approached her, its wings sending gusts of hot air swirling around them./

/He franticly searched around him. He had to find something to stop the dragon and rocks would do little more than annoy it to distraction./

/Distraction?… maybe…/

/He took a deep breath and moved forward, though his insides shook with fear./

Bremoline was becoming more worried by the second. The tremors shaking the body beneath his hands were becoming worse. His forehead was very hot and he could feel sweat pouring from Glorfindel's face. He waited no longer.

"Gailarphen!" Though, as he turned to call, he saw the healer was already at his side. The unexpected nearness of the healer made him start slightly.

"What is wrong?"

"I cannot waken Glorfindel. He is feverish." Bremoline did not even look at the healer. He sought out Thoronhen instead. "Thoronhen, we need some warm water and cloths and hot water for the tea that I am sure that Glorfindel will need."

"Of course, Captain." Thoronhen did not need to be told twice. He moved to work with the others as a well-coordinated team. They had learned much on this trip on what to do in this kind of crisis. That worked well for them now.

"What happened?" Gailarphen was quickly looking his friend over.

"I thought he was waking up. He groaned and then..." Bremoline could only shrug.

"I think it may be from the bite that Elrond gave him. Has it been looked at since I dressed it?" Bremoline's wide-eyed look of horror was more than adequate to tell him why Glorfindel was now ill, even before the Captain shook his head as a negative answer.

He sighed silently and reached for the bandaged shoulder, secretly dreading what he would find. Bites were always nasty by nature of the function of teeth... to eat. It mattered not how clean anyone tried to keep their mouth. The likely presence and rapid growth of infection-giving organisms was so high that it always resulted in infection. He hoped that even with the unavoidable minor delay in treating this wound when it had happened, it would still have been treated in time. He had been wrong.

It took little time to undo the laces that tied Glorfindel's tunic closed and then to slip it and the blood-stained undertunic off of his shoulder. By then, Thoronhen had arrived with hot water and the other requested items. Gailarphen took it from him with a smile and a nod of thanks.

The bandage was stuck to the wound and he needed the water to help remove the dressing. That took time as well.

Soon though, the wound was revealed in all its dubious glory. The expected bruising was already in evidence, or at least some of it was, but once the bandage was off...

The bite was high up on the shoulder and was raised and inflamed. You could see every tooth mark, their crescent-shaped indents clearly visible where the skin had been broken through.

Gailarphen reached for his pack and began to crumble some of the fresh Athelas into the bowl and laid some to one side. It would be needed.

The surprisingly extensive bruising ran off in all directions from the bite, off the shoulder and down the arm, down the chest and back, all hues of blue and black and even some deep wine-red. The bruising was nasty and would take some time to heal unless given help.

Gailarphen moved aside Glorfindel's hair so that he could dress the wound properly. The gasp that left his lips was barely audible but it sounded as if a whip had been cracked in the tense air.

The thick golden tresses had concealed even more bruising that ran all the way up his neck, behind his ear and disappeared into Glorfindel's hair. Even his ear was bruised. All this was caused by one small bite. It was another reason that Gailarphen hated dealing with bites. The resulting bleeding into surrounding tissues could cause as painful a bruise as a crushing blow was likely to leave and it could cover a large area.

"Bremoline, I need both witch hazel and Arnica. Do we have any?" Gailarphen was already cleaning the feverish-hot wound with the athelas water.

"Certainly, I always carry some with me, always handy to have." Bremoline reached for his own pack to dig out his small supply of the herbs.

"Good, that will help all this bruising. Did Nestoron not look at the wound again while I slept?" The Master Healer still sounded angry.

"He had not the chance. So many things happened all at once, Mithrandir's arrival, Legolas..."

"I will have a few things to discuss with Nestoron when he returns, never mind. This is an appalling way to treat a patient and I will not stand for it!" Gailarphen ground out. This infection should never have been allowed to get this bad. He rarely found fault with Nestoron, but this was inexcusable, especially on top of drugging his colleague. The after-effects of that had Gailarphen's usually-placid temper boiling this morning.

"Gailarphen, I do not think it was Nestoron's fault. There were so many things that happened at once..."

"Eagles! The Eagles return!" Thoronhen's voice caught their attention as he gazed into the sky above them.

Far above them, the large birds could be seen, circling as they made a slow descent toward the camp.

"Good, I wish to speak with Nestoron." Gailarphen felt his unusual anger grow.

He used the time to completely clean and dress Glorfindel's wound before giving him a strong tea for his rising fever. When he had finished, the Eagles were just about to land.

Gailarphen stood and marched determinedly towards them.

Only one of the birds bore a rider and it was not the person that Gailarphen wanted most to see.

"Mithrandir! Where is Nestoron? I need to speak with him!" He hurried towards the Eagle carrying the elderly Maia, not noticing that one of the birds seemed to deflate at his words.

"And a good day to you, also, Master Healer Gailarphen. I am pleased to see that you are awake this time." The tone in the normally-affable wizard's voice was hard.

"I apologise, Mithrandir. That was not the best greeting." Gailarphen hurried to apologise for his abrupt manner.

"No, it was not. I am sorry to say, Gailarphen, that Nestoron could not be with us when we returned." Mithrandir slid from the back of the Great Eagle.

"Where is he? Did some ill befall Legolas?" Sudden fear caught hold of Gailarphen. Mithrandir's manner spoke of tension and his face looked grim and worried.

"Nay, it is not Legolas. The young Prince was better by the time we left, not good, but better. Come I will explain away from my friends." Mithrandir did not want to upset the Eagles at his side any more than he must.

"Indeed. Some tea Mithrandir? You must be cold." Bremoline called from where he sat next to Glorfindel.

"That is true and very welcome, Bremoline. Is Glorfindel unwell?" Mithrandir could not help but ask. He had never seen Glorfindel sleep this late, ever.

"He is not well, but sleeping. I hoped to speak with Nestoron about his condition." Gailarphen's lips were drawn tight as he spoke.

"Unfortunately, circumstances prevented Nestoron from being able to return with me. Ah, thank you, that is most welcome." Mithrandir accepted the tea from Bremoline.

"Circumstances prevented him! Nothing short of the summons of the Valar should have prevented his return to his..."

"That, Gailarphen, is what almost did happen." Mithrandir's voice was very quiet, so quiet that only the two near to him could understand what he was saying.

"Good, then you... W... what?" The anger seemed to drain from the Master Healer, as water from an overturned bucket.

"As I just said, Gailarphen, that is almost what happened. There has been a very unfortunate accident." Mithrandir took a sip of tea and watched the healer before him.

"Who? How bad? Do I need to come?" Gailarphen reached automatically for his pack, anger forgotten.

"Not at present, but we do need to get back soon. I need to see both Elrond and Legolas. No, an accident happened when we were flying back to Imladris." Could that be a sob they heard from the area of the Great Eagles? "Thoronneth, please, this was not your fault."

They all realised at once who Mithrandir was speaking to and turned to see that the Eagle on Gwaihir's right would not meet their eyes.

"Thoronneth? Are you alright, mellon-nin?" Thoronhen hurried to the Eagle's side.

"Please tell Gandalf to keep his voice down. Faunryn is getting very upset." It was then that Thoronhen realised that Gwaihir was trying to calm down the other young Eagle.

"I will." Thoronhen hurried back to the fire. He leaned to whisper in the wizard's ear. "Mithrandir, Thoronneth wanted me to let you know that Faunryn is very upset. Why would he be upset?"

"I will need to hurry. Nestoron let his rope go when it began to unravel. He tried to make sure that Elrond was safe when he fell. He fell over fifty feet." They were all aware of the sounds of distress coming from behind them.

"He fell? Nestoron fell?" Gailarphen could do nothing more than repeat the horror of what he had just heard.

"Yes, Gailarphen. Faunryn tried to catch him and it almost worked. He managed to lower him some more. That is the only reason that Nestoron still lives." Mithrandir's voice was sure of this, he was sure of this.

"He... he is alive?" Bremoline asked hesitantly.

"Yes, thank Ilúvatar. He is alive, badly injured, but alive. That is not all..." He looked over his shoulder to where Gwaihir was still comforting Faunryn. "Faelien saw him fall."

"No!" Gailarphen could not prevent the horrified cry that left his lips.

"I am very much afraid so. Still, that is not all. Were you aware that she and Nestoron were trying for a family?" Mithrandir did not want to break this news like this, but felt that he had little choice.

"No, they mentioned it a while ago, in passing."

"How much of a 'while' ago?" Mithrandir raised his bushy grey eyebrow inquiringly to Gailarphen.

"I do not recall. Last year? I was a little busy at the time. Yes, last year that would have been it." The more he thought of it the more certain he became. "Why?"

"Faelien is pregnant." Mithrandir's voice was even softer than it had been before.

"WHAT!" Gailarphen looked at him as if he had grown a second head. "But how?"

A small round of laughter fluttered around the group at that.

"You know what I mean! How pregnant? Is she well? I have to go back to them..."

"Not yet, Gailarphen, there is more for you to hear and it is not all good. Sit, please." Mithrandir's voice was stern.

Gailarphen blinked dazedly at him before he nearly fell back to sit on the ground near the fire, his heart hammering.

"Nestoron was badly injured in the fall and Faelien fell into grief."

"No! Valar! No!" Gailarphen had his head in his hands. He had been so angry with his friend, his brother and now... now to hear this.

"Yes, Gailarphen, I know that this is hard to bear, but please try to remain calm. We thought that we had lost both her and the babe. I tried to help..."

"Tried? What do you mean 'tried'?"

"Gailarphen! Please let me finish." Mithrandir stood. He seemed to suddenly tower over the tall dark-haired healer.

Gailarphen swallowed, nodding meekly. How had the amiable wizard suddenly become so large and scary?

It was then that Gailarphen noticed that the entire camp was watching and listening in. It was highly unusual for him to lose his calm like this, but the day had started out bad and only seemed to get worse. His friend... his friends... he could lose them both!

Mithrandir allowed the ghost of a smile to flit across his wizened features. "It seems I had some rather unexpected help. Faelien and her child..."

The scream that unexpectedly cut through the air was enough to make them all jump. Mithrandir's spilled tea made the fire smoke and crackle as his staff and sword appeared in his hands. Gailarphen jumped to his feet, as did Randis, who hissed and cursed under his breath at the pain that flared in his wounded leg, though he also readied his bow. Bremoline had his hand on his sword, standing protectively over Glorfindel. All around the camp weapons were brandished, searching for a foe.

The three Great Eagles took wing with cries of protest and panic, their sharp talons raised, prepared to help fight whatever danger might threaten their friends.

They all stood ready to protect the camp. Another loud wailing cry cut through the tense air and Bremoline looked down, startled. It had come from beneath him.

"Glorfindel?" He dropped his sword as he fell to his knees beside the stricken Elf. He had not recognised the voice that made those cries. He had never heard Glorfindel scream before.

Gailarphen joined him without another word. He reached to the fallen warrior and felt his face. He was even hotter than he had been previously. "I need more water, hot, and my pack!"

Randis moved stiffly, but quickly, to do his bidding.

"What about Faelien and her child?" Gailarphen and Bremoline were working together to get Glorfindel's tunic off. Gailarphen continued his questions to Mithrandir as he assessed the severity of the fever.

"They are both alive and very strong. Nestoron will recover with time. He has many broken bones, including his back, I'm afraid."

"His back!" Gailarphen and Bremoline spoke in unison and looked up at him, shocked.

It was at that exact time that Glorfindel began to jerk and fight against them. It took all their combined efforts to keep him from hurting either himself or them. It seemed as if he did not even know where he was.

"That is bad." Gailarphen spoke through gritted teeth.

"Yes, but tell me, what has happened with Glorfindel?" Mithrandir knelt beside them and gently stroked Glorfindel's hot forehead as he struggled against the healer and the warrior that restrained him.

"Elrond bit him, on the shoulder, and the wound is infected. How was Nestoron when you left?" He was so worried about his friend. Hearing the number of his injuries made him shiver with fear and shock.

"Resting and comfortable, well, at least as comfortable as he could be, given the circumstances." Although Glorfindel was still trembling beneath them, he had stopped fighting them and was muttering under his breath, so distressed that they could not hear what he was saying.

"That is something at least." Bremoline sounded relieved as they laid Glorfindel back on his pallet.

"Indeed. Has Glorfindel been having any nightmares?" The question came so out of the blue that they all blinked at Mithrandir in shock.

"Not recently, but how did you know? Of course, you are his very old and close friend." Gailarphen had to smile as he recalled.

"As you say, Gailarphen. Why is Glorfindel dreaming of fire and heat? Once you have him settled, we will see about getting you and Calandor, as well as Glorfindel, back to Imladris. Captain Bremoline, are you happy continuing to Imladris by horse?"

Mithrandir still stroked Glorfindel's forehead. Surprisingly, it seemed to help calm him.

"Of course, I will not leave my men and those two…" He nodded towards Imles and Ruthwen. "…still need someone to keep a close eye on them." Bremoline would not give them an inch, either of them.

"Yes, that would be wise. Good, we need to let Gwaihir know that we will be ready to leave soon." Mithrandir stood slowly.

"Why would Glorfindel be having nightmares, why now? It has been years since..." Gailarphen broke off, Glorfindel would not be happy if he were to continue speaking of the problems still associated with his past, the past of the haunting fall of his home, Gondolin.

"There could be a number of reasons." Mithrandir sounded thoughtful.

"Surely he should have awakened by now?" Gailarphen suddenly asked from where he was now trying to get Glorfindel to drink more of the tea for his fever.

"That could be because of the sleeping herbs he was given." Bremoline answered for the others.

"Oh, yes, how could I have forgotten that I gave him sleeping herbs?" Silence met Gailarphen's words.

"Y...You gave Glorfindel sleeping herb?" Bremoline could not believe what he had just heard.

"Yes, in the tea for pain and to help ward off infection. I knew that he would not sleep and so gave him..." He saw the horrified look on the other's face. "What? What is wrong?"

"I gave Glorfindel a sleeping herb in his soup." Bremoline had the grace to look ashamed.

"You did? This is not good." Gailarphen sounded horrified.

"I also believe that he was given some herbs by Doroniel and Nestoron as well." Mithrandir added helpfully.

"What!" Gailarphen was once more looking at the Maia with a look of horror.

Mithrandir shook his head regretfully. "Indeed, it seems that you have all had the same thought, for the same good reasons. It is a pity that you all decided not to talk to each other about those reasons."

"But, that means that he has been overdosed by the herbs! Between that and the fever, no wonder he has not awakened. We need to get him back to Imladris as soon as we possibly can. I need to give him an antidote and I do not have it with me. We will talk about this later, Bremoline. We need to discuss this. I do not blame you, any of you. As the Healer in charge, I should have informed you of the herbs I had given him." Gailarphen could not believe this terrible mistake. His head had begun to thump even worse than it had been when he first woke.

"As you wish, Gailarphen. I am sorry, though." Bremoline sounded sad.

"What on Arda for?" This time Gailarphen blinked at Bremoline. He seemed to be doing that a lot today. Perhaps he should be sure to never take the sleeping herbs again if they affected him this way.

"For giving Glorfindel the herbs. Will he be alright?"

"Yes, I am sure he will be. I do need to know what you gave him though." Gailarphen watched as Mithrandir gestured for the Great Eagles to land.

"Then you had better take Randis with you. He was the one to make the tea." Bremoline looked to where his friend stood beside the fire with his shoulders slumped, arms crossed tightly, and brow furrowed. He seemed pale and his eyes were closed.

"Good, I do wish for him to rest his leg and I am aware he is unlikely to get much chance to do that traveling with you." Gailarphen also looked at the young Elf, but with worry this time.

"Rest? Randis? You jest, surely? Randis never rests out of Mirkwood. I have never known him to truly rest." Bremoline raised his right eyebrow as the Eagles fluttered to the ground with ease.

"Then I will have to make sure that he is taught the essential art then." There was a twinkle in his eyes.

"You mean?" Bremoline envisioned someone trying to tie the young scout into a bed. The healers in Mirkwood had threatened that a few times when Randis had been wounded in the past.

Gailarphen gave a blank look at the Captain's question. "Mean what, Bremoline? You may need to speak with him while I get ready." Bremoline nodded and hurried over to his despondent friend. Randis seemed to be taking the accidental overdosing of Glorfindel rather hard.

Mithrandir hurried back over to the Master Healer.

"The Eagles are ready when you are."

"Good, it should not be long now. Randis will be coming with us. He knows the herbs that they gave Glorfindel. I also think he needs to rest that leg. I need to speak with Calandor and make sure that he is alright before the journey. I did not have the opportunity to do so yet this morning."

"Yes, I need a word with him as well." Mithrandir's simple phrase worried Gailarphen more than he ever could have thought possible.

"You do?" He hurried after the Maia. "Calandor, Mae Govannen. How are you feeling today?" He knelt beside the Mirkwood Elf.

"Mae govannen, Gailarphen, Mithrandir. You are well?"

"Yes, but we need to know how you feel?" Gailarphen gently lifted his right wrist.

"Sore, but well. A lot better than I did." Calandor was actually still in pain, but he would not let them know that.

"I am pleased to hear that. Are your hands and feet still tingling?" Gailarphen had begun to gently unwind the bandage that covered the hand he held.

"A little, but not nearly as bad as they were." Calandor watched as the bandages fell away. He had not really seen the damage to his hands before this.

"Good, they are looking better. The burns are healing well. Can you feel this?" The hiss that Calandor gave was answer enough.

"Mithrandir, is Doroniel alright? I heard you mention Nestoron but not Doroniel." He was worried about his soon-to-be-bonded.

"When I left, she was resting." Mithrandir smiled at him.

"I am glad. She is not as well as she was trying to make you believe." He settled back as Gailarphen began to clean his wounds.

"Oh?" Mithrandir asked thoughtfully, seeming to watch Gailarphen, though he was in fact watching Calandor closely.

"She was caught by the lightning (ai) strike and has not truly (uhng) recovered. Her hands and feet (hsss) still pain her and she is exhausted." Calandor could not stop the wince that sounded in his voice each time Gailarphen touched a painful spot. His hand really was still tender and he was beginning to feel it more each day.

"How do you know this?" There was a twinkle in Mithrandir's eyes, as if he knew the answer before he asked.

"She is to be my bonded and I have known her a long time. I know Doroniel." He shrugged, as if it was simply obvious.

Mithrandir gave him a mild appraising look before he continued. "Good. She fainted when we arrived, but was resting well when I left. The healers did not think there was anything to be worried about."

"Fainted? Ow!" He had jumped and inadvertently pulled his hand.

"Sîdh, Calandor she is well. I just wanted to tell you before we arrived." Mithrandir hurried to reassure him.

"You are sure? I should have gone with her..."

"There was no room, Calandor. Besides, I think that she would have been embarrassed."

"Calandor, I thought you said you had little pain?" Gailarphen asked him sharply.

"I... well, I..." He had the grace not to look at the healer. He was too embarrassed at being caught like a little Elfling being naughty.

"I will get you some pain-killing herbs. And I thought that Doroniel was stubborn. I think the two of you deserve each other." Shaking his head in mock anger and true worry, Gailarphen made his way back to the fire.

Mithrandir spoke softly to the young archer." You should have told him they hurt, Penneth. They will not heal if you do not use them properly. You cannot do that if you are in pain."

"You should listen to Mithrandir if you wish to be able to ever draw your bow properly again." Gailarphen had returned with the hot tea that he was mixing as he walked. His voice held more than a little warning.

"I may never...!" True horror filled Calandor's voice. He couldn't bear to finish that thought.

"We did not say that, Calandor. Just that, if you let the pain become too bad, you will not use your hands fully. With the exercises that you will need, that would not be a good idea." Gailarphen caught him with his gimlet grey eyes in a stern gaze. "Drink this and then I will dress your hands and we can be on our way."

"Yes, Master Healer. I will certainly let you know from now on." Calandor hurried to reassure him. Just the thought of never being able to draw a bow was enough to give him the chills. And then... "What about my feet?"

"We will look at them when we get to Imladris. They will need time to heal as well." Gailarphen held the cup to Calandor's lips.

Calandor drank, his heart thumping with fear. What if his feet did not heal properly? What use was an archer who could not get to his target? He could never sit safe at home in Mirkwood and be content to know that his friends fought the evil that strangled his home. Would Doroniel even want to look at him again? No, he could not think that way. Doroniel was not that shallow a person.

"Calandor." Gailarphen caught his attention. He had a good idea of what was worrying the wounded archer. "It would not matter if you grew a second head. Doroniel would still love you for who you are. Your hands and feet will heal but it will take time. Now finish that tea. I really want to get back to Imladris. Mithrandir, you mentioned Legolas. How was he?"

Calandor's eyes widened once more as he drank the tea. No one had really asked how his small friend was.

"He had another seizure when we got to Imladris and needed more medication. He is in very poor health, but I think he will recover. He woke before I left and he could see, much to Thranduil's relief and thanks." Why he did not mention that the Valar had a hand in Legolas' recovery, he did not know. Except he knew that there were ears listening that should not be. Also he wanted to think on what he had heard and witnessed.

"How was Thranduil?" Gailarphen helped Calandor take some fresh, cool water after the bitter tea.

"He had another attack with his heart, but we managed to help him in time." Mithrandir sat back watching as Gailarphen tried to coax Calandor to drink more water.

"I have had enough, hannon-le, Gailarphen." Calandor tried to turn his head away.

"That is not enough, Calandor. Not with these burns, you could easily become dehydrated. Do not think I have not noticed that you did not need to use the bushes this morning." As he spoke he noticed that Calandor blushed bright red.

"I could not drink another..."

"Have you been deliberately not drinking so that you did not need to use the bushes?" It suddenly all made sense.

"Well... I... er..." Once more Calandor could not meet his eyes.

"Mirkwood Elves and their damnable pride!" Gailarphen could not help expressing his frustration. He turned angry eyes once more to Calandor's. "You will be drinking one goblet an hour once we get to Imladris. You will ask for help with any and all such 'problems'. You will also be using the bushes once I have cleaned and dressed your hands. Do you not realise that you could cause yourself more problems? The lightning strike itself could cause kidney problems! Are you trying to add to that!"

Calandor looked away and mumbled something under his breath.

"What was that?" Gailarphen's voice was hard and angry.

"I did not want to ask... I was embarrassed, alright? I feel like an Elfling! Too young to take care of myself…" There was real consternation in Calandor's eyes and it deflated Gailarphen's anger more than anything else could have done.

Gailarphen declared in serious a tone. "You are injured, mellon-nin, and only one with a hard heart would not understand that. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. If it had not been for you, the injuries to Aran Thranduil, the Caun and Doroniel would have been far greater than they are. They could even have died. The fact that they did not is only because of you."

Calandor looked uncomfortable at the Master Healer's unexpected praise. "I did nothing. I could not let either Legolas or Doroniel be hurt any more than they already were."

"Nonsense! You did a lot more than nothing!" He finished cleaning the burns on Calandor's hand and hurried to re-dress it. "Come I will bear you company for your little visit to the bushes. It might be a good idea that we all do so, before the journey back to Imladris."

It was a short while later that a much more relieved and comfortable Calandor was helped back to the camp. He had not realised that trying not to go could become so painful!

They had to pass by the two Ellith on their way back, unfortunately. They overheard a conversation between the two that was not meant to be heard.

They could not help but overhear the moaning from Ruthwen. "At least we do not have to go and see to their mess. Really, I ask you, what would Adar say when he hears what I have been forced to do?"

"I know, a Lady like yourself should not be made to do these things. I cannot imagine what Aran Thranduil was thinking, making you look after such doings!" Imles sounded both apologetic and angry at the same time.

"He was coerced by that upstart healer, Imles, I am sure of that. As soon as he realises what he has done and just how upset..." There was delicate sniffing. "…I am, he will surely apologise to me?"

"I am sure he will, Mellon-nin, and, just think, when you are Queen..."

"Yes! They will all pay for their rudeness. And, ooo, when I have finished with Bremoline!" There was an angry quaver in her voice.

Calandor was pleased for once that he had to lean heavily on Gailarphen's arms. It meant he could easily whisper in his ear and not be overheard by the two. "Do you think we should warn both Bremoline and Aran Thranduil of their plans?"

"I have no worries that Bremoline can handle these two, not after their earlier tussle. What is all this about Scary Baby Spiders?" Gailarphen had to ask.

"They had a tussle? Bremoline and her?" Calandor must have been speaking with others or sleeping when that had happened. What a shame. He would have enjoyed seeing that.

"You were still asleep, I gave you herbs for that, do you recall?" Gailarphen asked. "And do not change the subject. My curiosity has been piqued!"

"I am sorry, I cannot tell you. That is not my tale to tell." Calandor had a sly, amused grin on his face.

"Then whose is it to tell?" Gailarphen kept pressing. He was also distracting Calandor from thinking of his painful feet with the conversation.

"Bremoline and Caun Legolas, it is their story to tell. But..." Calandor chuckled. "...ask Randis about the little fluffy kittens too." Calandor started laughing and he seemed unable to stop, even with Gailarphen's own time-tested Healer's quelling look. If anything, it caused fresh giggles to start.

It was a relief to reach the campfire, only to see that Mithrandir was talking to the three Eagles. Even to his untrained eye, the Eagle on the right seemed to be a lot more... depressed? Could an Eagle be depressed?

"Ah, Gailarphen, Calandor. Are we ready to leave now?" Mithrandir turned to them.

"Yes, we are. Randis, are you able to mount the Eagle?" Gailarphen turned to the limping scout.

"Yes, with no problems. It will be a relief to get my feet off the ground to be honest." He shot a glowering look at Bremoline. "No kittens in the air, I hope!"

Calandor and the other Mirkwood warriors all fell about laughing. Gailarphen looked around carefully. There! Even Haldir was laughing at the unfortunate Randis' words.

Hmm. He would have to speak with the Galadhrim when he got to Imladris.

"I agree, Randis. No, kittens cannot fly. I could arrange it though!" Mithrandir could not help but tease. "Come, we need to be off. Gailarphen can you handle Glorfindel or do you wish me to fly with him?"

"I will fly with him. Which Eagle?" He turned to look at the birds.

"Faunryn will carry both of you. He bears the rope from Lothlorien. You will all be safe, all three of you." Mithrandir included Faunryn in this statement, it was clear. He received no answer from the Eagle.

"I have no fear of falling from Faunryn. I trust him implicitly." Gailarphen was only telling the truth. He was preparing Glorfindel for the trip, wrapping a blanket around his bare shoulders to ward any chill from the cold winds.

"I agree with Gailarphen." Calandor put his own opinion forth.

"You do?" Faunryn squawked with surprise.

"Yes, Faunryn we do. None of us blame you for what happened with Nestoron. It was an accident. Accidents are just that, something beyond our control. Nestoron would not be happy if he thought you blamed yourself for his fall." Gailarphen knew his friend far too well for that. He would more likely gather all the blame to himself, deserved or not.

"Thank you. I tried to catch him. I did!" Faunryn sounded close to tears once more.

"Faunryn, you did more than try to catch him. You did catch him! His cloak tore and that was the ultimate reason he fell. Please, my friend, try to forget what happened." Mithrandir moved to the Eagle's side.

"Gandalf is right, young one. Listen to him. He is wise." Gwaihir spoke up too. "I told you, your nestlings will hear of this, and they will. I promise you that."

"I will be honored to carry you, Master Healer. I hope you will enjoy the flight." Faunryn held out his claw to help them get Glorfindel mounted.

Calandor was also lifted up since he could not use his hands. Soon, with Mithrandir's help, he was being secured to Gwaihir's back.

"I have always wanted to fly with a Great Eagle. I tried to be one as an Elfling." Calandor's face lit with a relaxed smile as he remembered.

"I recall that!" Bremoline laughed as he tied the last knot to secure Calandor. "You fell out the window and broke your arm. I thought your Naneth was going to kill you on the spot!"

"And Mealena! He thought I was hallucinating after I hit my head!" The two of them laughed at the old memory that still felt as if it had happened yesterday and not almost two millennia ago.

"It is good to see you relaxed enough to laugh, Mellon-nin. You had us all worried." Bremoline was pleased to see all his people relaxed enough to laugh like that again.

"I am sorry to be a worry. I will be fine." Calandor gratefully smiled back at his friends.

"Randis, you will fly with Thoronneth, since Calandor is with me on Gwaihir. Let me help you mount him, Randis." Mithrandir had crossed to his side.

"Hannon le, Mithrandir. I would appreciate that." He had almost reached the back of the bird when Mithrandir spoke, very clearly.

"Did you realise that your leg was bleeding again, Randis?"

Randis winced. He had hoped that he would get away with letting that little piece of news remain unknown. He was sure it would stop soon on its own.

"It is only a little."

"No, Randis, it is not. You are bleeding heavily. Your legging is soaked through." Mithrandir sounded cross once more.

"Can it wait until we get to Imladris?" Randis wanted to leave at once.

"Very well, but it will be seen to immediately when we reach Imladris. But, because of this, I do not wish you to fly alone." Mithrandir told him firmly.

"Why? I am alright!"

"That is why you are staining Thoronneth's wing?" Mithrandir raised his left eyebrow. He had just seen the red stain on the feathers. Randis was bleeding even more heavily than he had first thought. The Eagle twisted around to see the red patch left on his wing where Randis' leg rested.

Thoronneth cocked his eye at the scout. "You are hurt, my friend!"

"I am not... I am." His voice went flat when he saw that his leg was bleeding that badly. He had known, really. He could feel the blood running down his leg. He had a sneaky suspicion that he had torn some of the stitches as he jumped up when Glorfindel screamed. It had even made the Eagles screech and made them all nervous.

"Is there a problem?" Gailarphen called over to them. He was eager to get Glorfindel back to Imladris now.

"Yes, Randis' leg is bleeding." Mithrandir called over to him.

"It is dressed, the bandage will hold!" He himself had seen to that.

"No, it is not holding and you will understand what I mean when you see it. Bremoline, could you untie Gailarphen and help him down? We need to re-dress this leg now." Mithrandir was already helping a stunned Randis back down to the ground.

"What happened?" Gailarphen hurried towards them. "Ah, yes, I see what you mean, Mellon-nin. This cannot wait."

Randis said nothing as he was laid on the ground and summarily stripped of his blood-soaked leggings to get to the bandage, not that he would want to wear them anymore anyway. He hissed with pain as the bandages were quickly removed and air touched his wound. It really hurt, actually worse than when the Warg had torn his leg to begin with.

"How in Elbereth's name did you tear most of the stitches from your wound?" Gailarphen sounded a little stunned as he worked to stop the bleeding.

Randis blushed and looked down, not answering.

Bremoline prodded the scout. "Master Healer Gailarphen is still waiting to hear how you did this, Randis!"

Silence. Gailarphen was not amused.

"That is alright, Bremoline. I think I know when it happened. When the Eagles screeched because Glorfindel cried out? Am I right, Randis? I remember when you leapt to your feet, you swore and hissed. That was the only time that it could have happened." Gailarphen sounded tired. He knew he should have checked on the Scout then. Randis' defeated look told him he was correct.

"This must be re-sutured right now. I will not allow you to travel with your leg bleeding like this. You lost enough blood when the wound happened, I'll wager, as pale as you are. You need not lose more. Bremoline..." He broke off as his pack appeared like magic in front of him, set there carefully by Craban. "Hennad. I will also need some..." The bowl of hot water appeared instantly, followed by a goblet of hot water, both from the hands of Thoronhen. Gailarphen's quick "Hannon-le." held a note of surprise.

Bremoline just smiled at him grimly. They had all known that he would need these things, it just made sense. They had learned from much practice over the last days to anticipate the healer's need.

"I want you to hold still and drink this, now!" The goblet was thrust into Randis' hand as soon as Gailarphen had crumbled a few herbs into the hot water.

Randis said nothing, but drank the bitter fluid as Gailarphen began to clean the wound. With a sharp knife, he removed the remnants of the torn sutures. Randis twitched each time the wound was touched but refused to cry out.

He winced and paled further as Gailarphen prodded the wound... hard. Gailarphen noted the way Randis' hands clenched and his eyes widened with the pain.

"Well, you are lucky that you have not done any further damage to the muscle. Would you have told me about this?"

"When we reached Imladris, yes. I was aware that we were in a rush to get Hir Glorfindel there." Randis' voice was quiet.

"So, you are a healer now and able to decide who needs treated first?" Gailarphen was threading a very sharp pierced thorn with the silk thread he preferred.

"No, I just... I know what was in the tea I mixed and they should not have been mixed with some of the other herbs." It all came out in a rush and he winced as the first stitch was made.

"I figured as much. Still, I believe we will be able to get Glorfindel to Imladris in good time. You forget that I know what the various sleep teas are made from as well. Now relax, this is going to hurt... Randis?" He looked up in time to see Bremoline catch him as he fell backward in a dead faint. He gave a grim mirthless smile. "Good, I can work now." The tea had done its work.

Gailarphen closed the wound quickly, yet with even, secure stitches. It was soon finished and he bound the wound tightly. "That should hold for now, but he will rest once we get to Imladris, even if I must bind him to the bed. He cannot fly alone now, however."

"I know. Haldir, would you fly with us?" Mithrandir asked the Lothlorien March Warden.

"Yes, I will go with you. Rumil, take care of my horse? I would prefer to be in Imladris quickly." He was eager to see how both Elrond and Legolas fared, as well as Thranduil. The Lady had bid him to take care of Elrond in any case and he could not do that from here.

"Good that settles that. Will you help me?" The two of them lifted Randis. Before taking him to Thoronneth, they changed his leggings for some spare ones that had been found in his pack. He could not fly half-naked after all, and his previous leggings were ruined. When that was accomplished, they carried him to the Eagle. Haldir quickly mounted, then reached down for the still-unconscious Scout. They were both secured to Thoronneth in a very short time.

Gailarphen was again secured to Faunryn with Glorfindel's fevered form held before him. Faunryn held Gailarphen's healing pack and instrument bag securely in his claws. Mithrandir had already settled with Calandor on the back of Gwaihir.

At Mithrandir's word, the three rose gently into the air to wing their way back to Imladris.

Bremoline watched them disappear from sight over the mountains before he turned back to the others.

"It is time to break camp. You all have your duties. We leave in ten minutes. Ruthwen, you pack your own things." He did not hesitate to give her the order. She scowled darkly at him, but moved to see to her things. Most of the others were already waiting with the horses to be on their way.

Soon camp was struck, the fires killed and ashes spread. They were on their way. Ruthwen was still riding with Imles, as her horse would not let her ride, even now.

Mithrandir was pleased. The flight passed without incident on this trip and the time went by swiftly. Soon, he would be back with Legolas. He could then have time to think on what he had learned.

Calandor rode in awed silence, gazing all around at a view of the mountains that he would probably never have the opportunity to see again.

Randis woke before too long with loud grumbling and soon had them all smiling with his curses and complaints of pain and being moved without permission like a sack of grain. It was taken as it was clearly meant, however, all with good cheer.

They sighted Imladris by mid-afternoon and soon spiraled down to land.

To Calandor's great relief, Doroniel was there to meet them. The relief and joy they showed at being re-united was enough to cheer even Faunryn.

Erestor met them as they entered the Last Homely House. His worried gasp when he saw Glorfindel unconscious, carried in by Gailarphen, spoke volumes to all who heard it. The two old friends often argued about the most trivial of matters, it seemed. They were as different as chalk and cheese, yet they were also just that, old friends.

"What happened? What is wrong with Glorfindel?" He hurried to their side.

"He is sleeping, Erestor. He has an infected bite and is fevered as well. Now that he is home, I am sure he will recover quickly." Gailarphen was positive of that.

"A bite! What bit him?" Erestor was stunned. Were they attacked by spiders from Mirkwood?

"You would have to ask Elrond about that. How are they, by the way?" Mithrandir carried Calandor while Haldir helped Randis stubbornly hop to the healing chamber because he refused to be carried.

"They are settled. Elrond is asleep, as is Thranduil. Legolas is resting, though he has still been feverish. They were still working on Nestoron, the last I heard. Faelien will not leave his side. Come, we have prepared beds for all of you. You must be tired, even you, Mithrandir." Erestor was helping Gailarphen with Glorfindel.

The healing wing was calm and quiet at the time they reached it. The three Eagles had reclaimed their places at the windows to watch what happened within the hallowed halls.

Mithrandir noted their presence with a slight smile. "I will see what help I can give Elrond when he wakens. I am well for now. I slept on the journey back to gather Glorfindel and the others. I would see Legolas now, if that is alright? He is still with Thranduil?" They had reached the first beds, and he gently laid Calandor down. Doroniel immediately fussed over him when he hissed with pain.

"Yes, Mithrandir, he is. Doroniel, I will make certain that the healers come to see to Calandor." Erestor left no room for debate.

Doroniel tried anyway. "I can see to..."

Gailarphen shook his head and turned to her. "No, Doroniel, you cannot. I will not have you treating Calandor now. In an emergency? Yes, but now when they are all here? No. Please rest yourself. You are still unwell."

He had been surprised she had been out to meet them. She should still be in bed. Did she have a healer's approval to be up?

He would not let his healers treat their family or close loved ones if it could be helped. It did not always work. Elrond agreed with him in principle, but had found it necessary to tend his own sons and even his daughter, for injuries many times in the past, even his beloved Celebrían, much to everyone's pain and grief. He bore a great burden of undeserved guilt that should not be his because of it.

"I am well. I can help. I cannot just sit idly by and..."

"Doroniel, I will not discuss this with you again. You will either sit beside Calandor or get back to your own bed. If you do not follow my orders, I will have you tied to your bed. Do not tempt me!" Doroniel had raised a finger to try and dissuade him, but she lowered it and quieted. Gailarphen nodded. "I will do it. You would not be the first and I am certain you will not be the last!" He threw a glance, full of meaning, at Randis who was unaware of it.

Doroniel settled on a chair near the bed Calandor had been laid in. The smile on his face was a most welcome sight and brought joy to Doroniel. "Causing trouble, Dor?"

Her smile softened her words. "No that is always you, Cal, always. What is wrong with Randis? Why is he limping? His wound was treated." She sounded puzzled as well as worried.

Gailarphen answered. "That was for the Orc poison. They were attacked by Wargs and he sustained a deep injury to his leg. It was sutured but Randis managed to burst most of them this morning. I had to re-suture the leg. He has lost a lot of blood and will be resting." Gailarphen was adamant. He was not aware that Doroniel had been the one to suture Randis' leg the night before.

"He should not have been walking!" Doroniel cried in horror.

"No, but he is determined to be more stubborn than Elrond and Thranduil together. He refused all but the little help you saw."

"Oh, he did, did he? Leave him with me! I know just how to deal with him!" There was grim determination in her voice as she stood and limped to Randis' bed where he was loudly complaining that he did not need help to remove his boots. Calandor and Gailarphen looked amused as they shared a grin and turned to watch. Calandor knew what was coming. He had seen her deal with her life-long friend before in similar circumstances.

Doroniel never raised her voice but managed to give the impression that she was shouting even so. "Randis! Be quiet! This is Hir Elrond's healing ward, not the Prancing Pony at Bree! There are injured here that are sleeping. Now you will lay there and you will do whatever is asked of you without complaint. Do you hear me?"

Gailarphen tried to stifle his laugh at the sight. The mighty Mirkwood Scout looked like a naughty Elfling, cowering in the bed as the small healer bore down on him. He was very glad he did not miss this!

"Dor, I am..." Randis seemed to shrink even more.

"Do not 'Dor' me, Scout Randis! I am your healer on this journey and you will obey every word I say! Do you understand me?" She glowered at him.

Randis had crowded up against the headboard of his bed, trying to stay out of Doroniel's reach.

"Do you understand me?" She slowly asked once more.

"Yes, Master Healer Doroniel, I understand you!" There was a definite pout to Randis' lips as he gave her a title she had not yet attained.

"Good, because I do not think you would like me to tell Captain Bremoline who really put the pepper in his honey on the day before we left Mirkwood, would you?" Doroniel asked, one eyebrow arched prettily.

Randis blushed and gaped at her. "No! But how?"

"I have my ways of finding things out. I even know all about the snake in Lathron's boot during his crisis healer training last year."

"That was not me!" Randis tried and failed to look innocent.

Doroniel smirked in disbelief. "Right, and I am really your Naneth in disguise. I saw you, Mellon-nin, every step of the way. I even watched you find the snake. Now you will stay in that bed for as long as the healers deem necessary, without complaint. You will not stand until given leave to. You will also take all the potions given you."

Randis scrunched his nose in disgust. "There is no need for you to pull faces like that! Even Legolas takes his potions better than you do! If you do not keep your promise some home truths will suddenly find the light of day."

"That is blackmail!" Randis' protested.

Doroniel smiled sweetly. "Yes, well, that is life for you. Now rest. I will see that you get some tea for the pain that you undoubtedly have."

"You are still the bully you were as an Elfling!" Randis griped.

"That is Master Bully to you Master Scout." This time Doroniel was laughing with him.

She turned to head for the herb table when her leg gave way. She staggered and tried to catch herself. Calandor cried out in alarm. Doroniel managed to catch the end of Randis' bed and stabilise herself, though she looked quite shaken.

"I am fine, Cal. My feet are just giving me..." She moved away from the bed, only to slump to the floor in a sudden faint.

Gailarphen sighed. He had been expecting this to happen. Randis was not the only one who needed to rest. "Sîdh, Calandor, she is well. I will see to her."

"Is she alright?" Calandor could only watch helplessly as Doroniel was lifted from the floor and placed on the nearest free bed.

"Yes, she has just pushed her recovering body too far. She forgets that she has been injured too." Gailarphen felt the rapid pulse beneath his questing fingers. In truth he was worried. This was the second time that Doroniel had collapsed here, if Mithrandir's recollection was right, and it usually was.

He sighed as he settled her into the bed and pulled the covers over her. "Thelion?"

The healer hurried to his side. "Yes, Master Gailarphen?"

"Will you stay with Doroniel? Keep a close eye on her and make certain that she, Randis and Calandor continue to rest. You have more healers to work with you?" He looked around at the familiar faces.

"Yes, although one healer has been relieved of his duties for now." Thelion answered as he felt Doroniel's pulse.

"Oh and why is that? For that matter, who is that?" He needed this like he needed an Orc attack. His headache really didn't need reinforcements.

"Tarias. There have been some problems since he started his training and he has been rude and disruptive. Linnathon decided to work closely with him this morning to stabilise Hir Elrond and he was so rough and curt to Lord Elrond that we felt we had no choice, he was sent home." Thelion had moved while he spoke, to check Randis, who was watching Doroniel with wide-eyed worry. One minute she had been roundly telling him off and then she was on the floor. Her collapse had frightened him.

"Good, I will speak with him. It may be that he is not as suitable as we could have hoped for. Who is with Linnathon? I take it he is..." He looked around at the beds and then the healers.

"He is still in the inner chamber with Nestoron and the other injured. Idhron is with him, as are Neithan and Ladeth." Thelion supplied the information he knew that Gailarphen wanted.

"Good, is it bad?" He immediately wished he had not asked the question as Thelion turned ashen at the memory.

He grasped Thelion's shoulder and squeezed it in reassurance. "I will go and look. We need someone to re-dress Glorfindel's shoulder and apply Witch Hazel and Arnica as needed. He needs a tea for fever and a blood purifying tonic to counter an overdose of a bad combination of sleeping herbs. I will only be a short while."

Gailarphen headed for the inner door that led to the second sanctum. Erestor followed him closely. He stopped as he reached the solid wood door and turned back. "It may be better to move Glorfindel after all that is done, if it could be managed. He will want to be with Elrond." With that he stepped through the door.

The large chamber was quiet, far too quiet for his liking. It set his hackles to rising.

Mithrandir sat beside a sleeping Thranduil, who, to his great delight, was cradling Legolas in his arms gently, as if he would never let him go. Mithrandir held the Prince's small hand tightly, a thoughtful look on his face. Legolas' leg was freshly splinted. He could not see his face from here. Thranduil had much better colour, thank Estë.

Faelien was asleep in the chair to one side of Nestoron's bed. One hand clutched Nestoron's, the other gently cupped over her flat abdomen. Gailarphen moved closer to his friend. One look at him was enough to worry him even more. Unaccustomed tears filled his eyes.

Nestoron's arm was splinted and tied into position on the bed. A set of pillows were situated tightly on either side of his head to keep him from moving it. His left leg was splinted and bandaged. Although, what really set Gailarphen's heart to thumping were the wide leather straps that spanned across his torso to prevent him from moving his body. This was only done when there was without doubt damage to a patient's spine.

Gailarphen automatically reached for his wrist, careful not to move Faelien's hand and waken her. Her smile was peaceful and happy and it surprised him. There was obviously more of a tale to be told than Mithrandir had mentioned. The pulse was not as bad as he had expected, fast and weak... but it could have been much worse, considering the extensive bruises and scratches that covered his old friend.

Gailarphen could so easily have remained angry with Nestoron over things that were beyond his control and then found he could never talk to his friend ever again. He had to remind himself that it had not happened.

He was about to move away when a sound from above startled him and he looked up. All three of the Great Eagles were watching them closely.

"How is Nestoron?" It just had to be Faunryn.

"Sleeping and holding his own." Gailarphen smiled at him.

"As well you know, Faunryn, the very air sings its praise for his return to us." The Wind Lord, Gwaihir, turned to look at the youngling beside him.

"That is true, but the trees cannot tell as Gailarphen can. He will recover?" Faunryn turned back to Gailarphen.

"Yes, I believe he will. It may take some time, but yes. You can hear it in the song?" He sounded awed.

"Yes and it also sings of Legolas. The trees, the grass and the very air sing to him. It is wondrous to hear." Faunryn sounded proud.

"I wish I could hear it fully." As with all Elves, he could hear some of the song if he stilled his mind enough to listen, but unlike their Woodland cousins, he could not speak with the trees.

"Mayhap one day you will." Gwaihir sounded certain to Gailarphen's ears and he smiled.

Gailarphen went to see about Elrond next. He was being watched over closely by Linnathon and Arwen. She looked pale and scared, but she smiled with pleasure upon seeing him.

"Arwen, you look as if you should be sleeping, Penneth." He moved close to hug her.

"I could not leave Ada, Gailarphen, not after..." She shivered in his arms and leaned her head on his chest.

"Not after?" He looked over her bent head and queried of Linnathon.

The other healer's mouth thinned even more if that was possible. Linnathon looked incredibly angry and unhappy. "I tried to give Tarias another chance. I instructed him to help me clean Hir Elrond's wounds. I will not let him near another patient, Hir Gailarphen! He was barbaric!"

"Is that not a little harsh?" Gailarphen was surprised at the others words, until he felt Arwen begin to sob in his arms. "What is it, Penneth?" His voice was gentle.

"He hurt Ada, Gailarphen! He was so harsh when he touched him." Tears were running down her face.

Gailarphen felt his anger, which had settled, burn once more. "He did what!"

"He hurt him terribly! He made Ada cry!" Arwen was sobbing completely now.

"He will recover and Tarias will pay for that, Arwen. Come, sit and hold your Ada's hand while you tell me what happened." He guided her back to the chair and eased her into it. He met Linnathon's eyes over Arwen's bent head. He mouthed silently but clearly, "Sleeping draft."

Linnathon nodded and turned to the mix the concoction.

"There, Penneth, sit down, try to relax. Linnathon will make a tea to help calm you. While he does that, can you tell me what happened?" He brushed the raven hair from her pale face. She looked exhausted. Had she slept at all recently?

"Linnathon wanted to change Ada's bandages again as they were wet once more." She missed the wince Gailarphen gave at the mention of 'again'. It meant that Elrond was still losing vital fluids and salts at an alarming rate. He had hoped it would have stopped by now. "I wanted to help him, but Linn would not let me. The others were all busy with Nestoron, Legolas and Uncle Thranduil."

"I am very glad that Linn stopped you. It is not something you should have to do." Gailarphen's voice was soft.

"That is what Linn said. The only healer that was not busy was Tarias. There had been some sort of trouble earlier concerning Legolas and he was sent to Linnathon's office. Linn spoke with him and gave him a stern warning. When they came back I could see he was angry. He was shaking really hard."

"Indeed he was. Tarias tried to say that I was negligent for leaving Legolas. I told him you and I would be speaking with him when you returned and that, until then, he was not to leave my side for any reason. He was not even to prepare basic herbs. Here you are, Penneth, drink this, it will help. I will finish the tale." Linnathon tried to reassure Arwen. He stood close to her and laid his arm across her shaking shoulders

Arwen sobbed once more. "Hannon-le, Linn. I am sorry." She took the goblet with trembling hands.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. Elrond would be proud. You have been very brave, helping with Caun Legolas in the way that you did." Linnathon did sound proud of her. He was not known to give undeserved praise to anyone either.

"I did not do anything." Arwen began to hiccup between sips of tea.

"Yes you did. You helped bathe Legolas after his seizure and then sat with your Adar so that I could help Thelion with Nestoron, so do not tell me you did nothing." He smiled as he watched her drink the last of the tea. It was already working by the glazed look to her eyes. She had not eaten and would not rest, in fear that Tarias would return and hurt Elrond if she did. He caught her as she slid sideways. She was already fast asleep.

Gailarphen helped him to lay her on an empty bed next to Elrond's.

"What exactly happened?" Gailarphen's voice was hard. He would not have any of his healers or students hurt any patient, even by accident, but the fact that it was Elrond himself! That was unforgivable.

"There is something about that Ellon that I do not like. He is extremely rude and dismissive of his peers. We came back here to dress Elrond's burns. He had just wakened but was very drowsy and confused. I think you gave him Poppy tea?" He asked the older Healer. At his nod, he continued. "He was trying to find Legolas and really had no idea where he was. I tried to reassure and calm him. All was going relatively well until we dressed his chest and abdomen. Valar, the burns there are bad!"

"I know." Gailarphen could recall all too well how the burns had looked.

"I tried my best to keep the large blister whole over his right shoulder and chest. It was a miracle that it had not burst yet." He swallowed at the memory. "Hir Elrond kept calling for Glorfindel, trying to reach out for him, pushing us aside. If I had not witnessed what I saw with my own eyes, if Arwen had not been there as well... I would never have believed a healer… anyone… would do a thing like that! He did it deliberately as well." Linnathon shook his head in disbelief.

Gailarphen's face turned stony. "What did he do?" It must have been terrible to upset Linnathon in this manner.

"He caught the blister deliberately and dug his fingers into it. He broke it! His eyes they were so... distant. I did not think he was even aware that we were in the chamber with him. He then dug his fingers into the wound beneath it. Ai! I have never heard such an awful cry of agony and never wish to hear it again. Elrond cried, Gailarphen, literally cried. Elbereth! I cried." He looked away embarrassed. "I have an admission to make. I would understand if you were to dismiss me here and now."

Gailarphen looked up, shocked, from soothing Arwen's hair from her face. "What? Why should I want to dismiss you?"

Linnathon stood to one side when Idhron walked by him, a goblet clutched in his hands. As he passed, he nodded to Linnathon. It seemed to Gailarphen as if there was new respect in that look. He shook his head, surely he was imagining things?

"Because I cannot be trusted. I would have left had there been enough healers to allow me to do so. I am ashamed of myself and never thought I could do such a thing."

"Linn, saes, tell me what the problem is. I am sure it is not as bad as you think." Gailarphen's mind was racing, what could have happened?

"We tried to pull him off of Hir Elrond, but he would not let go. Arwen slapped him but he didn't seem to notice. I... I…" He rubbed his knuckles absently. "I hit him." Linnathon lowered his eyes and stared at the floor.

Gailarphen gaped at him openly. "You? You hit him?"

"He thumped him good, actually, knocked him right off his feet." Idhron spoke up from where he was carefully giving Elrond more fluid. He had been given this job to do once every hour. He knew very well how important it was to Elrond's recovery to replace the fluids lost from his body. He made sure that was exactly what he did.

"Good for you, exactly what I would have done." Gailarphen sounded amused, but his face was grim.

"I will go now, the..." Linnathon looked up, stunned. "P... pardon?"

"I said, Linnathon, that I would have done the same. You tried to pull him away and he would not come, nor would he listen. You had to stop him from hurting Hir Elrond. That was the best way to do it. I will not have you leave over doing the right thing. Now, has anyone seen to your hand?" Gailarphen had picked up Elrond's limp left wrist to check his pulse.

"I tended it for him, Master Healer Gailarphen, after much persuasion." Idhron carefully tipped the last dribble of the salt and mineral solution into Elrond's lax mouth and watched to be sure it was swallowed before he turned away.

"Good, he can be hardheaded that way." If possible, Gailarphen was more grimly amused. "Where is he?"

"I have him under guard." Erestor spoke for the first time. "I would not let him get away with this, especially after what he said about Legolas as well."

"Oh?"

"Mithrandir threatened to turn him into a rat for the rest of his days for his disrespect." There was no amusement in Erestor's voice though.

"Good, perhaps he should have done." He looked over to where the Maia sat seemingly staring into space with a tiny, thin hand clasped gently, but firmly in his own large, calloused one.

"Other than that, how has Elrond been?" Gailarphen was not happy with the pulse beneath his fingers.

"S...sore, drugged." The faint, raspy voice made them all start.

"Elrond? Mellon-nin, how do you... never mind." Gailarphen realised he had almost asked a silly question.

"Wh…where?"

"Imladris and home."

"Arwen?" The voice was barely audible and so cracked and croaking that it must have hurt to speak.

"Sleeping. Let me get you some water." Idhron made the move first.

"Ah, good, you are awake." Mithrandir had moved beside them so quietly that none of them even knew he was aware of what was happening.

"M...Mith..." A choking cough made him stop talking, Even Mithrandir winced.

"I am here, Mellon-iaur. Have your drink first. Then I want to look at you." He replied enigmatically.

Elrond would have sighed at the relief of the cold water, if he could have sighed, that is. He tried not to gulp the liquid, his throat hurt too much for that, but it was tempting...oh so tempting.

Regretfully, the drained goblet was pulled away all too soon. He would have gladly drained another full goblet, and several more, in spite of the discomfort of each careful swallow. Elrond wanted to, but dared not, clear his throat.

"W... why?" He was puzzled.

"You will see, old friend. Erestor, have you some screens that we can use to shade Elrond's bed?"

"Yes, of course, Mithrandir." The scholar hurried off, motioning Idhron to follow him.

"Linnathon, I think you will find that Legolas has need of some fluid, he is very feverish again. I will look at him in a while." Mithrandir smiled kindly down at the healer.

Linnathon rose, there was dismissal in the wizard's voice as well as a hint of mischief. He understood the veiled request for privacy.

"Mithrandir? What?" Gailarphen was confused.

Mithrandir pulled him closer to Elrond's bed so that he could speak to both of them but not be overheard.

"What do you know of the Elven Rings of Power?" Mithrandir took a seat in the chair beside Elrond.

"T...trusted." There was just the one word from Elrond, clearly meant for Gailarphen's ears. Or was he talking to Mithrandir about Gailarphen?

"I know that Hir Elrond and the Lady Galadriel each hold one. I have seen Elrond use Vilya and know of Nenya." If Elrond had not spoken, Gailarphen would never have told the Maia. One never knew where the spies of Sauron came from. The two blue Maia missing from the White Council's knowledge spoke volumes, coupled with the growing darkness that was covering the land once more.

"Good, that is good and what do you know of the third ring, the Ring of Fire?" Mithrandir settled back in the chair.

"I... have not been let into that secret." Gailarphen was not sure that he really wanted to know. It was perilous enough to know that Elrond bore Vilya.

"C...Cirdan." It was obvious to the two watchers that just speaking, even single words, was painful for the injured Elf Lord.

"Indeed, Elrond, Cirdan had the Ring of Fire, Narya." Mithrandir was enjoying this, perhaps a little too much.

"Narya? Cirdan?" The ship builder was a Ring Bearer? Gailarphen's eyes were wide. He had been to Mithlond many times with injured or fading patients and had never known! "Had?" The past tense had just registered to the healer's startled mind.

"Yes, Gailarphen, had. I was asked by Cirdan to come visit him in Mithlond four years ago, I think it was."

"But why? What did…?"

"He had been asked by the Valar to give up Narya."

Elrond gave a rasping gasp at this.

"They asked that he pass it to one who had been chosen." With that, Mithrandir raised his left hand and there, before the startled healer's eyes, upon his forefinger glittered into existence a ring. A ring he had never seen before. The stone was a deep wine-red, almost purple, set in a silver-coloured metal, possibly mithril.

"Is that it?" Gailarphen's eyes were wide and startled.

"Indeed, this is Narya. It was entrusted to my keeping, but it was to remain secret until the Valar felt the time was right. I have been told the time is right to tell the other Bearers of the Elven Rings that they have help."

"N...Narya?" Elrond reached weakly toward Mithrandir's hand, as if he could sense the power there, even though he could not see the ring.

"Yes, Elrond, I have Narya. I think that when you healed Legolas, you were hit with a spell of great Evil. I would like to help you, if I can. Will you let me?" Mithrandir was now sitting hawk-like on the chair. Narya had vanished from sight once more.

Elrond inclined his head in a nod. "Saes." He could not bear the thought of possibly spending eternity like this.

"Good, I am glad, Mellon-nin, I will do my utmost to help you. Ah, here is Erestor with the screen." Mithrandir sounded a bit too cheerful to all their ears. Erestor just looked troubled as the screens were set up around the bed. "If you could leave us?" The Maia closed the screen without blinking.

He returned to sit beside Elrond again, Gailarphen stood watching them.

"T...tell Er'stor. T...trust." Elrond was already thirsty again and it worried him. He knew this was a sign of severe dehydration.

"I will, along with Glorfindel when he wakes, but for now I want you to relax and try to stay calm."

Elrond only frowned at Mithrandir's words. How could he keep calm like this? What use would he be to anyone as he was now? He had been shaken by the attack on him earlier and disliked the feeling of vulnerability it caused.

"That is not my idea of relaxing, my friend." The Maia sounded heartily amused.

Elrond wanted to sigh but his throat seemed to constrict, stopping him. Instead he tried to meditate, to clear his mind. He had done this many times in the past and it came to him like second nature, even when he was in pain.

Mithrandir watched as Elrond's tense and pained body seemed to become rigid for a second and then relaxed, almost bonelessly limp. He rested his left hand upon the pale brow and Narya flashed to life. It glowed dully purple for a second until the stone flared, brightened and seemed to expand its red-golden light. A small smile appeared on Elrond's face. Mithrandir's right hand settled lightly on the bandages over Elrond's heart. He sat thus for a second before he began to chant very quietly under his breath. Gailarphen had no idea what he was saying.

Mithrandir settled into the chair. He might have seemed to sit idly with Legolas earlier but he had taken the time to soothe the Elfling Prince and search his memory of what happened to Elrond. The last thing he wanted was to make either Legolas or Elrond relive the nightmare he had witnessed over and over again. That would help neither of them.

Mithrandir knew exactly what memory he needed to see. A deep breath and he was flying through the dark.

Ah, there. Just the one he wanted to see.

/Elrond stepped in front of the fallen Elfling. He looked more furious than Mithrandir had seen him for some time. "I will never see this innocent child within your evil grasp!"/

Yes, that was so very like Elrond. His belief in the power of good was all-encompassing, although it had become a little ragged, torn by Isildur's treachery and Celebrían's tragedy.

The laughter that filled the air was chilling. Mithrandir had heard that laughter before. /He watched as Elrond suddenly tossed Legolas into Thranduil's arms. "As you wish, Elf. By your own words..."/

Mithrandir gasped. The sheer weight of evil and cold that he could feel, even in this memory, was stunning. He had been right. This was a curse of dire evil.

/The looming shadow seemed to roll and shape a darkly glowing ball in his hands then sent it hurtling at the brightly glowing form of the Elf Lord. The ball became sun-bright. It seemed to writhe within itself as if something dark and monstrous trapped within fought to get out. The ball moved with unearthly speed towards Elrond and impacted him fully in the face. He was thrown back and fell with a cry of agony and sprawled upon the ground, unmoving./

Gailarphen stood helplessly nearby, afraid to interfere. On the bed, Elrond writhed beneath Mithrandir's hands with the remembered pain. Mithrandir began to chant again, calling upon the Valar and the power of Narya to help. As he chanted, the Ring shone fiery red with its bright power. The more intensely he chanted, the brighter the glow from the ring became. The beauty and warmth that emanated from the ring was incredible.

The spell did not want to leave. The dark power behind it was incredible, but, Mithrandir would not leave it now, not now that he knew what spell had been used. He could not, for Elrond's sake.

/So, Maia, you think that you can rid him of my spells that easily do you/ The voice was cold as winter's teeth and came from nowhere and everywhere.

/Yes. You will not win this battle./ Mithrandir was panting with strain.

/You will have no choice but to lose. You are too weak. Do you really think you can defeat me/ The dark voice dripped condescension as cold laughter echoed around them.

/I will fight you every step of the way until you are no more, no matter how long it may take/ Mithrandir muttered another quick spell under his breath.

/You will have to do better than that! Believe me, this Half Elf will never see again!" The laughter was chilling.

/Yes, he will/ A quick prayer to the Valar was all he had time for when a sudden flare of white filled his vision.

A roar of towering anger mixed with a little fear was his reward as the light of Narya filled the air around him, it surrounded and shielded him. Its light grew exponentially, beyond anything he had seen before, brighter and clearer. Mithrandir's heart began to sing unexpectedly.

He was not alone here as he faced this evil. He was not alone and he was not weak!

/A Ring of Power! But how? They are not here! You will not leave here, Maia. I will have the Ring for my own. Yes, all will fear and love me and with it I will gather the other Rings. Fool! Give me the Ring and I will send you back to Valinor without pain. Resist and you will suffer greatly. I am stronger than you will ever be!" The voice sounded delighted with this new turn of events.

/You will never have this Ring. Do not be deluded that you are stronger. You know not what you face/ Mithrandir's spirit was lifted by the love and peace he felt.

/You are a greater fool than I thought, Maia! You, beat me! I am..." Narya flared once more and the voice choked off with a cry of agony.

Taking advantage of Narya's distraction of the monstrous being, Mithrandir began franticly chanting. It was met by a roar of anger.

/You will not win!"/

/Are you sure of that? I am not alone and I have a higher power than you to help me/ He dodged quickly as a ball of fire suddenly shot at him. /Is that the best you can do/

A larger, roaring ball of flame was the reply. Mithrandir easily sidestepped to watch it disappear.

/Puny. I thought after hearing of what you had been doing that you were better than this. The Valar will never let you get away with this./

In the chamber, Gailarphen saw Mithrandir stiffen and squeeze his eyes tighter in concentration. Under his hands a golden glow began to bracket Elrond's dark head and slowly spread.

/The Valar! Those cowards? They have not the strength nor the will to stop me!" The voice did not sound so sure suddenly and Mithrandir realised why. They were no longer alone in this place.

He knew this presence well. His heart filled with the same joy he had felt the last time he drew near. A light pushed aside the darkness.

/We Vala are no cowards. Cowards hide in the dark and mask their face from view. They target Ellith and Elflings who pose no danger to them at present. They deceive the innocent and deluded for their own misguided ends./ It was Eru himself and he was in a towering temper.

/Yes you are. The biggest cowards going. Hiding away in Valinor from the hardships of real life. Only interfering when you think you will be threatened/

/You are very wrong. One day you realise just how wrong that is. On that day you will atone for all the Evil that you have wrought and the evil that you continue to do. Now, you will leave this place. /

/And who will remove me/ The voice was so snide and sure it sent shivers down Mithrandir's spine.

/I will/ There was a dazzling flash of light and a wail, then the fell shadow was gone.

/Elrond will need your help and guidance while he recovers, Olórin. It will take time and he will need your friendship, for he may have doubts, but he will recover in due time. I am pleased with you, Olórin. Of all the Maia, you grow to your potential. Irmo has told me of your willingness to help those we love. You will return home one day and when you do, the love that will be shown you will be beyond measure. Take care of Legolas. We will speak again. Speak with Galadriel tonight. She will know that Narya has been used as you knew when Vilya and Nenya had been used. She will be worried. Rest, now, my wonderful child.../

The presence was gone and Mithrandir was left in this 'dreamscape' with Elrond on the ground. He was more exhausted after the unexpected battle than he had felt for some time, but he knelt beside the fallen Elf Lord.

The reason he was here, his task, was still before him. Closing his eyes, he felt for the spell and the damage that had been done to Elrond. It took some time, a long time in fact, before he was satisfied that the insidious spell had been completely removed. He stood tiredly, and would have left the dreamscape then, but something more caught his eye and his breath hitched.

He blinked several times, certain he was imagining things because he was just too exhausted with everything that had happened, but when he looked again he could still see it and he was certain that it was true.

Elrond's throat was encircled by a tight band of darkness. It glittered like black ice, but it reeked of evil. Someone had said Elrond was attacked in a vision before? It was obviously another curse, just as black and evil as the previously-banished spell, though this dire spell could eventually take the Elf Lord's life.

He returned to kneel once more at Elrond's side with determination. He would not let this evil win. He had already made that vow. As soon as his hand touched Elrond's pale throat Narya flared into glorious life once more. Mithrandir resumed the chant once more, even through his parched throat.

The grey-haired wizard was not aware of the bright golden light that surrounded the two of them in the healing chamber. He was unaware of the look of utter awe on Gailarphen's face as he watched the silent struggle. He did not have any idea of the battle taking place, but he could tell from the strain and sweat on Mithrandir's face, it must be a hard-fought one.

All Gailarphen noticed was that the chant and golden halo of light around the two of them flickered out of life at the same time that Narya disappeared from view again.

Mithrandir slumped exhausted across Elrond, seeming unaware, almost unconscious. Gailarphen heard a loud sigh of relief as Elrond took his first deep breath after hours of struggling, in spite of the sudden weight on him. Gailarphen rushed forward, calling for help. He tried to lift Mithrandir off of the struggling Elf Lord, before the weight could cause more damage to his burns.

"Easy, Elrond, I have you, just let me help Mithrandir."

"Exhausted." Elrond's voice was still hoarse and weak, but nothing like it had been. He no longer had the choking, constricting pain in his throat with every breath. It would take some time for his voice to return to normal but, as a healer, he had no doubt that it would.

"Yes, I am not surprised. That is one tale I wish to hear when you have both recovered." Erestor was there quickly with Idhron next to him. They helped move Mithrandir to another chair while Gailarphen checked Elrond over.

Elrond, unbelievably, was smiling. "As will I, mellon-nin." It came out as a rough whisper, but it was easily understood.

"Let us get you comfortable now. Would you like some water?" Gailarphen was pleased and shocked that Elrond could actually speak to him now.

Elrond licked his extremely dry and cracked lips before he nodded. "Saes." He winced. His throat was still incredibly sore.

Gailarphen nodded and poured the water before realising that Elrond could not see the nod. "I will get it for you. Do you have pain?"

He crossed to the bed once more, watching the thoughtful look that crossed the still-pale and burnt face.

"A little."

"A little! Stop being brave, Elrond! I have seen what lies beneath those bandages, you cannot not have any pain! Now be truthful with me, how bad is the pain?" He had gone through this conversation before with his friend.

"A little." Elrond admitted grudgingly. The frustrated sigh he heard at his admission was like a rock falling in the chamber.

"You make this so hard, Mellon-nin. The truth, saes?" Gailarphen rubbed his aching head once more.

"I hurt." The voice was low and succinct and to the point.

"I thought as much." Idhron had joined them. Gailarphen turned to the healer in training. "Have you ever prepared poppy tea?"

"No, Master Healer Gailarphen." He sounded so nervous that Gailarphen smiled in remembrance. He had once been this new and worried. It seemed so long ago now and yet just like yesterday.

"Come, we will prepare it together, then we will discuss it later. Rest, Elrond." The last was a warning shot over his shoulder.

Elrond glowered in reply although it lost a lot in the telling with the white bandage about his head. Gailarphen missed the look entirely anyway as he was already huddled with Idhron at the herb table, setting out the ingredients to make the poppy tea.

Mithrandir had recovered enough to sit up straighter in the chair with Linnathon's help by the time they had finished the poppy tea. "Before you give him that, Gailarphen, would you perhaps take a look at Elrond's eyes and see if there has been any improvement?" He was curious to see what effect the removal of the curse had wrought on Elrond.

"That is a good idea, Mithrandir. Perhaps I should do just that. Idhron, I need some cool water and some cloths, saes." Gailarphen placed the poppy tea on the small stand near the side of the bed and shifted Elrond gently into a near-sitting position, propped with more pillows. He was too weak to manage sitting on his own yet.

"Of course." Working with Master Healer Gailarphen was almost like a dream come true for the trainee healer. It was more than he could have hoped for in his first year of training. Gailarphen normally only worked closely with the older trainees.

"I am going to remove the bandages and I want you to keep your eyes closed. Understand, Elrond? I need to clean them before you open them." Gailarphen was already unwinding the cloth.

"I understand." All too well. They could all nearly hear his unspoken words.

Just as Elrond often did, Gailarphen used every opportunity to teach that came available, even this one. He queried Idhron as he slowly unwound the bandages. "Good. Hannon-le, Idhron. Now I am going to wash Hir Elrond's eyes and I will do it from the inside of the eye to the outside. Can you tell me why? Can I use the cloth again?" He was trying to keep them all from thinking too deeply about what would happen when they finished, but also this was the best way of teaching, by example and with instances.

"Yes, Master Healer. You wash from the inside out to wash the debris away and without spreading any infection. No, you cannot use the cloth again. It should be discarded after each use for the same reason." Idhron answered.

"Very good. That is exactly right. You should also wash your hands between eyes for the same reason. You do not want to spread any infection from eye to eye." He followed his words with this action, washing his hands before he started.

"I would not wish for that to happen." Idhron had to be honest.

"None of us would. Elrond, you have lost most of the hairs from your eyebrows and eyelashes. Your eyelids are still very red and puffy from the scalds as well, they will be delicate. For a while you will have to be careful." Gailarphen was aware of the number of hairs that had come out on the cloth, too many, far too many. If the bandages had been changed, there would have been a lot less. Also, the bandage had stuck behind the right ear, exactly where he had cleaned the wound there before.

That brought home the realisation that Elrond's eye dressings had almost certainly not been changed since then. With so much going on, how or when would they have had the chance? That thought brought a twinge of guilt. Was that not what he had been angry with Nestoron about that very morning?

Elrond frowned slightly at the information. "That is not good but it cannot be helped. Saes, some water? I am very thirsty." There was real need behind the croaked request.

"Let me help you, Hir-nin." Idhron poured some from a pitcher near the bed and while Gailarphen quickly took a look at the wound behind his ear, Elrond was helped to drink more of the clear cold fluid that he longed for and needed.

Gailarphen moved aside some of Elrond's dark hair to better see the scalp wound, only for some loose strands to come away in his hand. The hair had come from an area that had also been scalded by the hot water that had splashed in Elrond's face when he fell. Gailarphen quickly shook his head as an indication to the others to make no comment. He dropped the hair on the pile of discarded bandages and went back to cleaning the wound.

Elrond finished the water quickly. "Hannad."

"You are welcome, Hir-nin."

"The wound behind your ear is healing well. Now, I want you to slowly blink your eyes open. I am standing right in front of you." Mithrandir sat forward at Gailarphen's words. This was what he wanted to see.

Elrond did as he had been instructed and slowly blinked his eyes open. It felt strange to have to do the actions after so long, but also a relief.

"Do you see anything?" Gailarphen watched him closely. He was not sure what to expect after Mithrandir's efforts.

Elrond's voice was low, even and toneless. "No." It was just one single word, but they all heard.

"Nothing?" Gailarphen had to press.

"Not a thing." His voice had fallen even flatter, if that was possible.

"Let me look at them." Gailarphen sat beside him and began to gently examine his eyes. All present, apart from Mithrandir, seemed to be greatly disappointed.

Mithrandir rose, swaying dangerously due to the exhaustion that seemed to press down on him. He wished he had his staff in hand to lean upon. No one said a thing, indeed they were all so interested in what was happening with Elrond that they did not even notice that he was no longer sitting in the chair that they had placed him in.

He tottered to the bed and stopped only when he was safely beside it. He was rather afraid that if he stopped, he would not have been able to start again. Gailarphen glowered briefly at him before returning his attention to Elrond.

"I cannot see any lasting damage this time. That is encouraging. It may just need time and rest."

"Did you really expect them to recover so quickly after such an evil spell?" Mithrandir sounded as old as he looked for once.

"Spell?" Gailarphen gasped, shocked.

"Indeed, a spell, or two, and very evil. Firstly, Elrond's eyes were targeted. The damage it has done will take time to heal. There may be some lasting damage, but until his eyes do heal, we will not know. Also, Elrond, your throat and chest were targeted by another spell to cause you to choke and keep on choking, not very nice and a nasty way to slowly pass from this life." Mithrandir frowned, shaking his head sadly at the thought of what could have befallen his old friend had he not happened to find the spells…and been able to remove them.

"That is evil!" Gailarphen and Erestor both hissed the words together.

"Yes, it was, but it has been dealt with. You will be able to heal now that the spells have been lifted. Narya did some very good work." Mithrandir hurried to reassure them.

"That is why you are exhausted, Master Maia?" Idhron asked. He had never before met one of the Maia sent by the Valar to aid Middle Earth. This really was a year of change for him.

"Yes, indeed, Penneth. Magic can do that to you." Mithrandir sat with a sigh, he ached more than he cared to admit. He was also relieved that Idhron had not asked what Narya was. He realised his indiscrete slip just a moment too late.

Idhron handed him a goblet of water which Mithrandir took with relief. "May I ask, what is Narya?" He then almost dropped the goblet at the innocent query.

Mithrandir thought quickly. "It is my pet name for magic. We all have a name for it."

Elrond coughed and all attention returned to him. "Easy, mellon-nin. Try not to cough. It cannot be good for your throat." Gailarphen decided then that he would make a honey tea to ease the irritation.

"I am well. How are the others? Legolas? I am very worried about Legolas." He was determined to turn the attention away from his eyes. For the time being, Elrond did not wish to think of his eyes and the future. He was also very worried about Legolas.

"Resting with Thranduil." They had not told Elrond yet about Nestoron, though it may not stay a secret for long in the same room. "I am going to clean and then re-bandage your eyes for protection. The last thing we want is to have more damage done to them." Gailarphen hated that thought, especially now, when there was more hope that Elrond could regain his sight.

"Very well. Mithrandir, when did you last eat?" Even with him being ill and sounding so hoarse they all knew the Lord of Imladris was back.

"A while ago, Elrond, as with you I think, even longer than I." Now that Elrond had mentioned food, Mithrandir's stomach felt as if it consisted of nothing more than a big empty hole.

"Yes, Elrond, You surely must eat something as well. You should at least have some nourishing broth. I would not recommend more yet. From the sound of it, your throat must still be very sore and irritated."

Erestor took Gailarphen's hints and left to organise some food for both Elrond and Mithrandir.

"It is, sore and dry." He managed to look pathetic as he asked. "Is there any more water? I am still thirsty." Elrond knew full-well the one thing that Imladris had in abundance was water.

"I will get you more, Hir-nin." The water pitcher was empty, but Idhron wasted no time and left with the pitcher clasped in his hands.

Elrond frowned. He should not be this thirsty. He was parched. Almost as soon as he had finished a goblet, he wanted more to drink. This was not good, he must be very dehydrated. And surely he should have needed the necessary by now? The bathing chamber? He had drunk a large amount already, even in the short time since he woke.

Elrond was just about to open his mouth to speak with Gailarphen about this when he heard the sound of a door opening. Cries from the other room shattered the silence.

"Noooooooooooooo! Elrond! He is on fire! Nooooooooo!"

The terror in that voice made Elrond shiver with sudden fear. That sounded like… no surely not. It could not be.

"Glorfindel! Gailarphen? What is...?" If Elrond had been able to sit up on his own he would have.

"Glorfindel is fevered and hallucinating, Elrond. I will go and see if I can help." Gailarphen could only imagine what the Balrog Slayer was seeing, but was willing to bet it involved flame and destruction, as most of his nightmares did. He could not leave him like this.

"I will stay with Elrond." Mithrandir had to admit that he did not think that he could have moved from the chair, no matter how much he wanted to.

All he got in reply was a distracted nod from the Healer as he rapidly departed

The closing door cut off the terrible cries.

"I want to..."

"You will stay right where you are, Elrond. You cannot be moved nor can you move yourself." Mithrandir's voice was calm.

"But..."

"There is no 'but', Elrond. How would you get there? Could you get there? I cannot help you at present." Mithrandir's voice sounded rueful to the Elf's sharp ears.

"I cannot sit idly by and let Glorfindel suffer when I can..."

The door opened once more.

"Ah, Haldir, how are you?" Mithrandir tried to speak over the heart-breaking sounds of Glorfindel's incoherent cries as Haldir closed the door as quickly as he could.

"I am well, Mithrandir." He looked more than a little pale to the wizard's sharp grey eyes. "Hir Elrond, it is good to see you awake and so recovered. We were all greatly worried."

"Haldir? It is good to hear you, Penneth." Elrond found another familiar voice welcome.

"I did promise Nana that I would stay and protect you. It does not seem that I have done a very good job." Haldir sounded sad and dejected.

"This is not your fault. What could you do against this evil? When did you arrive in Imladris? I am surprised that Nestoron has not been here to fuss over me yet." Elrond sighed as he tried to shift against the pillows. He really needed that poppy tea, even though he would not admit that outright.

The silence that fell was almost smothering. It lasted just a bit too long. "What? What is wrong?" Elrond's heart began to thump. He could tell that something was being withheld from him.

"Peace, Elrond, I will explain. Just try and relax, you need to calm your breathing." Mithrandir did not want to tempt fate.

"Forget my lungs! What is wrong with Nestoron?" There was a demand in his tone.

"Try to relax and control your breathing Elrond and I will explain." Mithrandir's voice was stern.

It earned him a frustrated sigh. After all, you can hardly glare at someone whom you cannot see. "Very well."

As they watched Elrond tried to relax again. It was rather hard to do this time, as his muscles were tense through the anxiety about his eyes, the pain and his worry over Nestoron. It kept him from concentrating.

"What do you recall?" Mithrandir knew there would be large stretches of time Elrond could not account for, due to being unconscious or drugged.

Elrond searched his memories but little came to his mind clearly after he used Vilya in the cave. "It is not very clear actually. I can recall helping Legolas and then nothing."

"You collapsed after helping Legolas and were badly burnt. I am told you fell into the fire. Gwaihir and his kin..."

"It is good to see you awake, Elrond." Gwaihir spoke for the first time.

"Mae Govannen, Gwaihir, and to your kin as well." Elrond hoarsely greeted the Great Eagle.

"On the flight to bring you here for healing, there was a problem with the rope that held you and Nestoron secure on the Eagle that bore you. His name is Faunryn. Nestoron untied his rope to retie your part that was coming apart. He fell, Elrond." Mithrandir watched the shocked look that passed over the pale face.

"Fell? But…how? Is he alive?" Elrond's already unusually gruff voice was even more so now. He was beginning to pant as his movements increased his pain.

"Aye, he lives."

"Thank Estë! Was he hurt badly?" Elrond demanded.

"Yes, I fear he was. He has a few broken bones and has damaged his back." Mithrandir tried to break the news slowly.

"His back? How badly?" Elrond was once more struggling to sit up. He had to help. He could not just sit, or slump, in the bed and do nothing.

"His back is broken." There was no easy way to say it.

"Valar, help me up!" Elrond had to go to his friend.

"No." Just one word, but it was enough. "Because, my friend, I cannot help you, you cannot do it alone and Haldir will not help you." Mithrandir sounded smug at the last part.

"Why not? How do you know that Haldir will not help me?" He had not expected such a good argument in reply. With hindsight, this was Mithrandir, perhaps he should have done.

"Because I will not, Hir-nin, not with the way you look at present. Nana would have my head on a plate." Haldir answered. "But, I think Master Healer Gailarphen would beat her to it however."

"How is he?" Elrond's thoughts had already returned to Nestoron and it was clear that he was asking about him, and no one else.

"He is resting at present in a bed across the room from you. They sedated him."

"We had to set his leg. We did not think that he would appreciate being awake for that!" Ladeth spoke up from where she was sitting with Nestoron. This had been her task, to stay with Nestoron and make certain he remained stable. She had done such a good job of it that she had not been noticed as she moved quietly about the room. In truth, she had been watching over Faelien as well.

"How badly was his leg broken?" Elrond had to know and would get the information no matter what.

"It came through the skin." Ladeth admitted reluctantly, her voice controlled to a neutral tone.

"That is not good, but he is stable?"

"Yes, Hir-nin, and Faelien is asleep."

"Was asleep." A drowsy voice interrupted her."

"Faelien! How are you feeling now? Let me get you some water." Ladeth had forgotten that the water pitcher was currently being refilled. "That will have to wait for the minute. How do you feel?"

"Faelien? What are you doing here?" Elrond sounded puzzled. His pain was increasing by the minute.

"Sitting with my bonded, Hir-nin. I would have it no other way." Faelien had taken up Nestoron's hand again and was clutching it.

"Of course, I am sorry. I was not thinking." Elrond was actually embarrassed.

"That is alright, Hir-nin. How do you feel?" Faelien peered at him worriedly. That brought Ladeth's eyes up from watching Nestoron breathe.

"Hir Elrond? What is it?" Ladeth rose and hurried to his side.

"Nothing." Elrond could feel every one of his burns and the ones on his right hand were beginning to itch something fierce.

"Please, Hir Elrond, I can see that you are in pain. Where is it and how bad?" Ladeth had to ask, they could all see how bad Elrond was feeling. His panting spoke of pain that could not be suppressed.

"Everywhere, badly." Elrond finally admitted, though still reluctantly.

"I will speak with Master Gailarphen." Ladeth left the chamber. When she opened the door the cacophony of sound was the same as the previous time.

Ladeth made certain to close the door to the chamber behind her. The last thing her Lord needed to hear was his friend screaming out more of his fevered nightmare delusions.

The chamber itself was surprisingly organised. Gailarphen was poised over Glorfindel, who, while calmer, was still agitated and calling out.

She hurried to his side. "Master Healer Gailarphen, I am sorry to interrupt but Hir Elrond is in a lot of pain, may I give him some herbs to ease it?" As a trainee, she had to ask. Hir Elrond was not her patient.

"Hmmm? Easy, Glorfindel just drink this for me. Sorry, Ladeth, you were saying?" Gailarphen was trying to get Glorfindel to drink a potion for his fever.

"Hir Elrond is in a lot of pain, can I give him some tea?" Ladeth repeated herself.

"Ai! I forgot. Linnathon, I can manage here if you would not mind returning to Elrond and help him to drink the poppy tea? It is on the table next to him. I completely forgot it with Glorfindel." He put the goblet down and picked a fresh one up containing plain, cool water.

"Of course, Hir-nin. Ah, Idhron returns with the water. Come, Ladeth you should return to Nestoron." The three of them returned to the larger chamber.

Faelien was talking quietly to Elrond and Mithrandir when they entered.

"Hir-nin, there is the poppy tea that Gailarphen prepared for you that you need. I will help you to drink it, and then you must rest. Your body needs more healing sleep." Linnathon picked up the goblet and re-mixed the tea. With his help, Elrond soon finished the tea followed by another goblet of water.

"I also have some good news for you, Hir Elrond." Faelien did not feel that she could retain the news any longer.

"What is that, Penneth?" Elrond hated to have to take the poppy tea, it made him feel so vulnerable. He hated not to be in control.

"Nestoron and I are expecting our first Babe." She was not sure how Elrond would take the news.

A genuinely happy smile lit his pained face. "That is wonderful, congratulations. I am pleased for you both, you will make wonderful parents." He had no doubt about that. Elrond's lips quirked a bit. "I also knew."

"You knew? But, how? We would have told you earlier..." Faelien hurried to explain.

"I am a healer, after all. If I could not tell when an Elleth is glowing with pregnancy, especially one I see each day, I would be a very poor Healer indeed. I could sense the Babe before we left for Fornost. You wished to inform your parents first, before announcing it?" Elrond was smiling through the pain.

"Yes, we sent messages to them on the day we realised that we had been blessed. Ai, Hir Elrond, I thought I had lost Nestoron. It is only thanks to Mithrandir that we are all here now. I have been doubly blessed." Faelien beamed at Mithrandir.

"I am pleased to hear that and glad that Mithrandir could help you. Nestoron must be pleased." Elrond tried to shift his position. He really was uncomfortable.

Mithrandir smiled fondly at Faelien. "I did very little, apart from point out the obvious. Ah, Erestor, with food, just what is needed." He was pleased that the food had arrived. He was hungry and had a feeling that Elrond would not be staying awake for very long. He needed nourishment to heal too.

"Indeed, Mithrandir. Cook hurried this for you. He also sent up some cooling juice for Elrond's throat, he said it would help." Erestor set the laden tray down on the herb table. Passing a full plate to Mithrandir, he returned for the bowl of broth. "I will help you to eat this, Mellon-nin."

"I can manage on my own, hennad." Elrond's voice was curt.

"And how will you do that? You need to hold the bowl and the spoon. Your right hand is useless. Stop being worse than your sons and accept aid." Erestor arched an eyebrow at Elrond, not thinking that the effort was lost since Elrond could not see it.

"You are enjoying this too much, Erestor! If I hear that Elladan and Elrohir find about this I will make your life so uncomfortable for such a long time." Elrond's warning only made Erestor laugh.

"I will not tell them. Let me settle you. You really do not look comfortable." He placed the bowl next to the empty goblets.

"That is because I am uncomfortable!" Elrond griped and then winced as Erestor helped him to move in the bed.

"There, is that better?" Ladeth had hurried to help Erestor move some of the pillows.

"A little, hennad."

"Let me know if this broth is alright? Mithrandir, is your food alright?" Erestor spooned the first of the broth into Elrond's waiting mouth.

"Indeed, it is delicious. It certainly hits the right spot. Is your broth good, Elrond?" Mithrandir was eating with gusto. The food was very good, but it would hardly have mattered if it was not. Mithrandir was ravenous.

Elrond swallowed the mouthful that he had just accepted. "Yes, very good. How is Glorfindel?"

Erestor had another spoonful ready. "He was more settled when I returned. Gailarphen was redressing his shoulder."

"Good, the infection must be nasty. What caused it?"

"As you say, it must be. I do not know what caused it. Idhron, could you pour some more water? Mithrandir and Faelien both need to drink." Erestor smiled at the trainee healer, hoping to distract Elrond. "Perhaps then you could check Aran Thranduil and Caun Legolas for me? Cook is going to have food ready for them as well, for when they waken."

"Of course, Hir Erestor." Idhron moved to do as bidden.

"Legolas will not be able to eat for a while. How is he?" Elrond opened his mouth to accept the next spoonful.

"He had another seizure when they arrived. His temperature is still very, very high. His sight has returned though." Mithrandir really was enjoying the food he had been given. The Imladris cook was one of the best.

"I am relieved at that. I wish I could see to his leg. That was very nasty." Elrond sighed with frustration.

"Gailarphen saw to it before we left. I am sure that Doroniel will be able to explain what he did, something about deriding?" Mithrandir sounded puzzled.

"Debriding, Mellon-nin. The damage must have been bad. Thranduil?"

Gailarphen spoke from the doorway to the chamber. He had quietly opened the door in time to hear Mithrandir's question. "He had another couple of attacks with his heart, but I believe that Mithrandir found a way to help him as well. I am going to be moving Glorfindel in here. He is settled, although still feverish, but doing well. I want all my most badly injured patients together. I will also be moving Doroniel for a short while."

"Doroniel? What is wrong with her?" Elrond could feel the poppy tea beginning to work.

"I just want to keep a close eye on her, that is all." How could he say that he was working on a feeling? That he just knew that all was not well with his fellow healer. "How are you feeling now?"

"A little better than I did before. How is Glorfindel?" He automatically opened his mouth for a spoonful of soup, rather like a young chick accepting food from its parent.

"Sleeping now. He will be well. The athelas is working on his shoulder." It was amazing to see Elrond like this. He was just used to his friend being... more stubborn.

"His shoulder?" It was easier for Elrond to swallow now that the broth had cooled somewhat. He was growing more worried about Glorfindel. He was also beginning to feel a little bit muddled.

Gailarphen noticed Elrond was beginning to repeat himself. Obviously the poppy tea was beginning to affect him.

"Yes, the wound was infected." Gailarphen sat down for a short time. He really was beginning to feel tired and his headache stubbornly refused to leave.

"What wound?" Elrond was beginning to slur his words slightly.

"This is the last of the broth, Elrond. Once you have the juice you can sleep for a while." Erestor had the spoon loaded and ready to go. Elrond obediently opened his mouth.

"Glorfindel received a wound to his shoulder, it is healing." Gailarphen did not want to let Elrond know the truth just yet. He would feel so bad about biting Glorfindel.

"Good, he will be here soon?" Erestor had set the bowl aside and picked up the goblet.

"Yes, they are moving him as we speak."

"Good, there is a bed for him, Erestor? In the eaves?" If he had been able to, Elrond would be blinking his eyes owlishly.

"E...eaves?" Erestor's eyes were wide and he was trying very hard not to laugh at his friend. "Wh... why the eaves?"

"Where else would he sleep? And make sure there are no wood mice there. He does not like wood mice. They bite!" The last was almost whispered as if it were a big secret.

"I will make sure of it." Erestor's cheeks hurt from trying to prevent himself from laughing. He could never imagine the mighty Balrog Slayer scared of wood mice.

"I think it is time for you to rest, Elrond. I will help you to lie down. All who have jobs in here can stay. The rest I want out so that my patients can rest!" Gailarphen called to the chamber.

Mithrandir nearly groaned. The last thing he wanted to do at the moment was to move. He was really not sure that he could.

"You may stay, Mithrandir." Gailarphen turned to the Maia. "You look too exhausted to move. Rest for now." He moved to help lower Elrond and turn him onto his left side and off of his burns. It would also aid his breathing. Once he was well and truly asleep, Gailarphen would check and re-dress the burns. He could feel a small fever when he touched Elrond. The last thing they needed was for him to also catch an infection.

"I would like some ducks, saes. I like ducks." Elrond did not seem to know they were there.

"Ducks, Mellon-nin?" Gailarphen had to smile.

"Yes, they quack and follow you. A little like mice. You have to feed them cheese." Elrond sounded innocent and so open, like a child.

"We will find some for you. Just rest and all will be well." Gailarphen wanted so much to laugh, but dared not.

"They do not like Glorfindel. He was bitten by one!" Was that a hiccup that Gailarphen heard when Elrond had just spoken?

"A mouse?"

"No! A duck, it bit his..." Gailarphen pressed his hand gently over Elrond's lips to prevent the rest of the Elf Lord's sentence leaving his mouth. He was certain it was for the best, no matter what was bitten.

"I do not think they need to know that, Elrond. Just sleep, you will feel better, I promise." If he let Elrond carry on, Glorfindel would blame him.

"But I want a duck!" Elrond sounded quiet petulant. He suddenly wrinkled his nose as Gailarphen leaned over him. "You smell!"

A strangled laugh came from behind them and Gailarphen looked up and around in time to see Erestor rushing from the chamber, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

There are no ducks here at the moment. I will make sure they bring one." Gailarphen tried unsuccessfully to get Elrond to relax on the bed. "I am not surprised that I smell. I have been around mud and horses for days and a lot of blood." His countenance darkened. "A lot of blood."

"Promise?"

"I promise. Sleep now, I will be here when you waken." Gailarphen watched as Elrond gave a sigh and relaxed against his pillow, sleep claimed him at once.

"Pray tell, what did bite Glorfindel and where?" Mithrandir sounded incredibly amused.

"That I do not know. I just did not think that Glorfindel would be happy with the tale being spread, nor that it was Elrond that told it. I have a feeling that Erestor knew, mind you." Gailarphen was gently covering Elrond.

"We will have to ask him." Mithrandir's eyes were twinkling once more.

"Yes, we will." Gailarphen was smiling despite his headache.

Mithrandir eyed him critically. "You need to sit down and have something to eat. Have you had anything since you got back?"

"I have not had the chance." Gailarphen was embarrassed to admit.

"You healers are the worst for looking after yourselves. You say that your patients are the worst, but really! If you cannot take care of yourselves, how can you take care of others?" Mithrandir glowered at Gailarphen.

"I will make sure that Healer Gailarphen gets something to eat, Master Maia." Idhron was eager to help and he hurried away.

TBC in ch 11

Finally the last part of chapter 10.

This chapter reached 117 pages long. That is why we have cut it in three parts and posted this part. Sorry it has taken so long.

Please let us know what you think? If you leave your email address along with your review we will reply. Sorry this is FF nets policy now and not ours. We love all our reviewers.

Enjoy!

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