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?

16. Chapter 16

The Twisted Web of Fate. 13?

(Gwî Norn Ned Amarth)

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

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 only write them for our own entertainment and we surely don't make any money off them.

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

Feedback: Pretty please?

Spoilers: Well, surely for LOTR

Summary: Thranduil and his young son must travel to a trade meeting too soon after the death of their wife and mother. Unknown to them, dire danger and darkness follow them. How will they survive when they discover that the gathering evil has targeted the small elven Prince?

WARNINGS – You might need a tissue or two for this chapter, we did.

Also be warned in this chapter there is a non-graphic scene (tastefully done, we think) in which a female defends herself by causing pain in a very tender part of a male's anatomy.

There is a lot of angst and hurt/care throughout this story. Shell (MCross) is a stickler for medical accuracy and we are following the viewpoints of a lot of healers. There are violence, graphic illness and injury descriptions here. It may be disturbing to some. If that isn't your interest, you might want to look elsewhere. 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. We are writing this story for our own amusement, but we hope you enjoy it too.

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---- Sindarin vocabulary ----

References: Dragon Flame, Thain's Book and Encyclopedia of Arda

Adan, Edain ….. (the race of) man, men

Adar, ada ….. father, dad

Amarth ….. fate, doom

Anor – the sun

Aran, Aran-nin …. King, my King

Ardhon, Arda ….. the world

Avo bedo! ... Do not speak!

Caun ….. Prince

DaerAda, DaerNana ….. (roughly) Grandfather, Grandmother

Daro! ….. Stop! Halt!

Elleth, ellith ….. elf-maiden, elf-maidens

Ellon, ellyn ….. elf, elves (male)

Eru ….. Ilúvatar, The One, leader of the Valar

Estë ….. Vala associated with healing, wife of Irmo.

Estelio nin ….. Trust me.

Fileg ….. small bird

Gerich veleth nín. ... You have my love.

Gîl síla erin lû e-govaded vín. ... A star shines upon the hour of our meeting.

Gwador ….. brother

Gwathel ….. sister

Gweston. ... I swear.

Gwî ….. web

Hannon le ….. Thank you

Hennad ….. thanks

Hervenn, hervess ….. husband, wife

Hír, Hír-nin ….. Lord, my Lord

Híril, Híril-nin ….. Lady, my Lady

Iaur ….. old

Imladris ….. Rivendell

Ion-nin ….. my son

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

Lhaew hûn nestadren salab ….. digitalis, foxglove, (name is our creation) literally ill heart healing herb

Losto mae! ….. Sleep well!

Mae govannen! ... Well met!

Man le? ... Who are you?

Man le carel sí? ... What are you doing here?

Meleth ….. (My) love

Melethron, melethril ….. lover (masc., fem.)

Mellon-iaur ….. old friend

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

Merin sa haryalye alasse! ….. I wish you joy!

Miruvor ….. Cordial of the Elves. Miruvor was a warm and fragrant clear liquid. Its special property was to give the drinker renewed strength and vitality. – Source: The Thain's Book site.

Mithlond ….. the Grey Havens
Námo ….. True name of the Valar Mandos

Ned ….. of

Nen ….. water

Norn ….. twisted

Nostad lín sui orch! ... Your smell is like an orc!

Penneth, pennyth ….. young one, young ones

Pen vuil ….. dear one

Saes ….. please

Sîdh ….. peace

Suilad ….. hail or greetings

Ú-cared nîr ….. do not weep

Yrch ….. orcs

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/ text / indicates thought, dream or visions

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Chapter Thirteen

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As he rode, Rumil looked around him at the Mirkwood warriors and other travelers they had gathered along their route over the Misty Mountains. They all certainly looked a little worse for wear. He choked back the grim laughter that threatened to escape him.

He did not think that the others would appreciate it.

The two that were causing his paroxysms were grumbling in the background. He really did not care what they thought about him, but he had great respect for the others of the party.

They had not made camp since they had resumed their journey three days ago. How Bremoline had not resorted to strangling or gagging the two witches yet, he did not know. It took all of his self-control to keep from doing so himself.

This journey was not pleasant for any of them. Had the two ellith stopped to consider that? More than a few of their number were injured and in need of a healer's skilled help. All were worried and weary, pushing themselves and their mounts to reach their goal, Imladris. Their food was becoming scarce and all those two could do was moan about sharing a horse, having to cook, and being ignored by the ellyn who they thought should be bowing to them!

Oh yes, Rumil had heard that. Ruthwen had not tried to be quiet when she spoke.

"I expect more from your men, Bremoline. I should not be made to work like this!"

Oh, how Rumil was beginning to despise that voice! The more she talked the more he wanted to stop it! Thank the Valar he did not have to deal with them directly!

"You know what Thranduil said before he left, Ruthwen…"

"He was sick and I am certain he did not know what he was talking about! You really expect me to believe he would have me doing this… this work of a servant?" The words were almost hissed and filled with disgust.

"Those were the orders I was given and I intend to carry them out until they are rescinded by Aran Thranduil himself. Nothing you say will convince me otherwise." Bremoline's voice was cold and Rumil had to hide a smirk.

Ruthwen and Imles had been going on like this morning, noon and night, trying to get out of the work that Bremoline had been giving them, on Thranduil's orders, of course. Rumil had always liked and respected Bremoline, but since the Eagles' departure, that had risen to greater heights. Captain Bremoline had been firm in his resolve and even remained civil in the face of their disrespect.

"My Ada…"

"Your Adar is not here. However, I am sure Tologgûr would love to hear how his daughter has tried to split this troop and has consistently undermined Aran Thranduil's orders." There was a real threat in Bremoline's words.

"How dare you! I have not…!"

"Yes, Ruthwen, you have…" Bremoline's voice sounded weary and curt. "…every step of the way."

"You will call me Híril Ruthwen! I will not have you being so familiar with me!" Ruthwen sounded even more outraged if that were possible.

"Avo bedo!" Bremoline stopped his horse. He turned to face Ruthwen. "Aran Thranduil declared that if you did not like his orders you could go back to Mirkwood. Saes, go! Spare us from the torture of your infernal chattering!"

Ruthwen looked so shocked that Rumil choked on the laughter that wanted so much to break free from his straining throat!

"How dare you! When I get to Imladris I will be writing to Adar and telling him..."

"How his best friend has just by this amount..." He held his forefinger and thumb up for her to see, there was the barest crack between them. "…refrained from strangling his daughter because of her contempt?"

"You are not Adar's best friend!" Ruthwen was getting angry now. This was not the way this argument was meant to go. Bremoline should be on his knees groveling before her!

"And how would you know that? Where were you on the nights that Miriel and I joined your parents for dinner? Where were you when Tologgûr and I attended weapon's training? I was there when you were born, Ruthwen." Bremoline pulled himself up to his full height. "Before you make such insulting declarations, you should be sure of your facts. For your information, Tologgûr knows all about your attitude and it distresses him greatly. You were not always such a willful child."

"I will not stay here and listen to this drivel!" The sneer was back in her voice and Rumil closed his eyes. Would this elleth never learn?

"Saes, leave! Gweston! You will not be taking one ellon from this troop with you, as per Aran Thranduil's orders. Have no fear, Ruthwen, your Adar will be hearing about all of this. Rochon!" He turned his back on Ruthwen, effectively dismissing her.

She glowered at Bremoline and then she caught Rumil grinning at her. Her glower turned almost deadly.

For the rest of that long afternoon as they descended from the Misty Mountains, Rumil could feel her burning gaze on his back.

Bremoline called for a short stop just before dusk. Much to everyone's disappointment Ruthwen and Imles were still among their party, although the cold, stony silence they had adopted was preferable to their moaning.

"Lathron, do you feel able to gather kindling?" Bremoline called to his friend.

"Aye!" Was his ready reply. He would gladly gather wood in spite of his discomfort, if only to get away from the Terrible Two for a short time.

"Good. Ruthwen, you and Imles are in charge of the cook fire and the food preparation. Benn, watch them!" He would not leave them alone with the food, who knew what they would add to it?

"Of course Captain!" Benn hurried over to them. "This would be the best place for the fire, by these rocks. That way, we can have tea as well. The stones will support the pots." There was no pleasantness in his voice.

Bremoline had to turn away at this. Even the Lothlorien and Imladris elves, who had been outraged at their handling of the two ellith at first, were treating the two with nothing less than utter contempt.

Sarnlome rode up from behind them and saluted. "Captain, we are not being followed."

"Hennad. That is good news." He looked up at the night sky. "We are close now. Another day and we should reach the hidden path, another one and we should be in Imladris. I am anxious to see everyone again. I hope they are well."

They were all worried about their friends. To see so many carried off unconscious was greatly distressing, especially when one was their King and another their Crown Prince that they were sworn to protect. Bremoline shivered. Rumil had to agree. If that had been either Haldir or Orophin…

"I will NOT!" There was that hated voice again.

"What is it this time, Ruthwen? Can you not go five minutes without complaining about something?" The edge in Bremoline's voice was even harder. Rumil could tell his patience was close to snapping. How could it not be? They were riding hard, with just the bare minimum of comfort stops.

"How dare you..."

"Do not start that again, elleth! We can go over this time and again and things will not change. I will say this. Stop and think before opening your mouth or it will be gagged. Do not look at me like that! This is all your own doing. The same applies to you, Imles. Now get the cook fire started or we just might leave you anyway. Do not tempt me any further, it will not take much!"

Rumil gave a grim smile. Bremoline was close to snapping. He truly did not blame him.

"Thoronhen? Once you have eaten, could you scout ahead? Take Lathron with you, but eat first, if the food is presentable."

Rumil grimaced. The last meal that Ruthwen and Imles had prepared had been so unpalatable that he was sure it was still lying where it was dumped. Any animal would have to be to the point of starvation before they would eat the hard, unidentifiable offering that they had been given. Rumil would have offered to make the meal himself had he been able to cook. (He could hear the hoots of derision that he knew his brothers would give at that.) The fact that he could cook was a well-hidden talent, one that no one, apart from his foster mother, knew about.

"Of course, Captain Bremoline. Saes, try and get a little rest, mellon-nin, I am worried about you."

"I am better, Thor, estelio nin. I just want to get to Imladris to find out how Thranduil fares and I am still greatly worried for Legolas."

The food this time, to Rumil's amazement, was actually pretty good, thanks in part to the fact that Benn had made them cook the food to his satisfaction and under his watchful eyes. He smiled across at Bremoline as the Mirkwood Captain gave the ellith a thoughtful glare.

The ellith glowered back insolently. Rumil could imagine his Nana tearing these two apart with nothing more than her tongue. Galadriel could do it as well.

Soon the fire had been put out and the ashes safely spread before they mounted their weary horses once more.

They rode all night without incident, and with no sign of predators or fell creatures to worry them. The pace was steady but no faster than the weary horses could safely manage on the mountain trail. Even Legolas' little mare was able to keep pace.

A glorious dawn rose behind them, beautiful enough to take the breath from one's lungs. The sky was one of the lightest blues possible with fluffy white clouds. It was a perfect spring morning, even if it was cold enough to see their own breath as they exhaled.

The weak light found them near the foot of the Misty Mountains as they had planned. Now it was a simple matter of a straightforward canter and trot for the horses.

Late afternoon found them crossing the Bruinen. Soon, thought Bremoline, they could rest. Soon he would not have to worry about the constant harsh looks and snipes from Ruthwen. Soon they would have warm beds. Soon they would know how their King fared.

Bremoline was so lost in these tired thoughts that he did not realise that they had entered the forest that surrounded Imladris until a voice called out to them in challenge.

"Daro! Man le? Man le carel sí!" Bremoline jumped and then beamed a smile, he knew that voice!

"Túgann, mellon-nin, is that you?"

"Bremoline? By the Valar! What are you doing here? I thought you were meant to be in Fornost!" An ellon in the colors of the Imladris Border Guard jumped from the tree he had been sheltering in. His bow was lowered and almost forgotten by his side as he greeted his old friend.

"We encountered a few problems and had to journey here to meet the rest of our party. Aran Thranduil, Caun Legolas and Hir Elrond were taken back there for healing aid from Gailarphen in Imladris. We are to meet them."

"We heard rumours that your party had met with some danger. Come, Heleg and I will guide you to Imladris. Rumil, it is good to see you looking so well." He bowed formally to all of them as another border guard joined them.

"And you, Túgann, mae govannen." Rumil gave the Imladris Border Guard a formal greeting. He knew him of old from his frequent visits to Lothlorien with Elrond.

By the time they reached the Last Homely House, Bremoline could have cried with joy. He could finally find out how Legolas and Thranduil fared. Also, he could appease himself that Glorfindel was truly alright. He still felt guilty that they had accidentally drugged him insensible.

Túgann had taken a long look at the ragged group as he led them. "I think we should take you all directly to the House of Healing. There are more than enough of you that need a healer's aid."

"You will do no such thing!" Bremoline could have growled in frustration. "Híril Ruthwen is in need of attention, a bath and a warm bed. She has been treated abominably by these warriors. I insist that you see to her comfort first!" Imles sounded haughty and proud as she gave her orders. She was not aware of the door to the Last Homely House as it swung open behind her.

"If Híril Ruthwen wishes to have a bath, I'm afraid she will have to see to running it herself. We have too many injured in need of help to give anyone such a useless job." The voice was quiet and studious, but it also held a hint of steel.

Ruthwen pulled herself up to her full height. Who did this ellon think he was? She would not stand for this! "Who are you to give me orders?"

"One who will do just that!" He deliberately turned away from her to greet Bremoline and the others. "Mae govannen, Captain Bremoline, welcome to Imladris. Chambers have been prepared for all of you and the healers await your injured. Food has also been prepared." He gestured for the grooms to take the sweat-slicked horses. "Your weary steeds will be well cared for."

Bremoline gave a formal bow and salute. "Mae govannen, Hir Erestor. Gîl síla erin lû e-govaded vín. You have no idea how pleased we are to be here. How are..."

"They are all much improved. Caun Legolas has been awake and has eaten. Aran Thranduil is currently sleeping. Elrond is better also."

Erestor smiled as Captain Bremoline's shoulders slumped in relief. "That is so good to hear."

"I know..." Erestor was cut off once more.

"You are the scholar?" Ruthwen was looking down her nose at him.

"Yes, I am Erestor." He turned his head and looked at her coolly.

At last a servant to see to things. "I want a bath and fresh food brought to my chamber. My clothes need cleaning and mending and..."

Erestor firmly broke in to her list of requirements. "You forget where you are and who you speak to, Ruthwen." She bristled at the familiar use of her name, but he ignored it. "I have already informed you both that, if you wish these things, they are available for you to see to them yourselves. It is easy to run the bath. The kitchens are that way. I am sure cook will help you. If you wish for clean clothes, wash them yourself and as for the mending..."

"How dare you!"

Bremoline rolled his eyes. Was this the only thing she knew to say? Whenever something happened that was not to her liking it was 'how dare you!'

"You are a servant and will do as I..."

"I am Counselor to Hir Elrond. While he and Hir Glorfindel are recovering in the House of Healing, I am currently in charge here. I am no servant, Híril, and you will address no one in that manner here. I warn you now, if you want these things, you will do them yourself. Hir Elrond will not stand for this. By Eru, I will not stand for this!" Erestor could not believe what he was hearing. He knew Ruthwen's Adar of old and neither he nor her naneth was like this.

"I apologise, Erestor..." Her voice became sickly sweet as she changed tactics.

"That is Hir Erestor to you." His voice was as cold as the winds on Caradhras.

"Hir Erestor." She made the point. "But the last few days have been so trying, to see our poor dian Caun so ill and injured." She forced tears into her eyes somehow.

"Then you will be pleased to know that Caun Legolas is doing well."

"That is such wonderful news!" She gave a watery simpering smile. No one, not even Erestor, believed her words or actions.

"Aye." The word was wry and full of cynicism. Erestor turned to speak to the waiting group in the courtyard. "Saes, everyone, come in and find rest. Rumil, your gwad... "

"Rumil! Gwador, it is good to see you!" Haldir flew from the house to rush to his brother's side. Soon all the Lothlorien elves were indulging in the glad reunion.

Ruthwen sniffed. "Well really! This is uncalled for. Erestor!" She turned imperiously to him.

"Hir Erestor!" He would not give in on this. There was something about this elleth that made him feel... almost dirty.

"Hir Erestor." It was a hiss. "We need to be taken to our chambers."

"Not chambers, but chamber." Erestor stressed the singular. "We do not have enough chambers available for everyone to have a room to themselves, I fear. You will be sharing with Híril Imles."

"That is unacceptable! I will not tolerate this. My Adar is..."

"Very far away from here, luckily for him, but I can say I know Tologgûr well enough to say he would accept this without a fuss, given the circumstances." Erestor turned to look her directly in the eye. "Shall I send him a missive informing him that his daughter is inconsiderate, rude and unbending in an emergency? That she thinks only for her comfort when others are in need?"

"Do not fail to add that she undermines Aran Thranduil's orders, Hir Erestor. Híril Ruthwen has done that from the moment we left Mirkwood." Bremoline told the scholar.

"Is that so? Tologgûr would be most unhappy to hear that, would he not, Ruthwen?" His grey eyes bore into her, dissecting her and reading her totally.

"If you tell us where to go, we will settle for the day." Ruthwen tried to draw her dignity around her like a tattered cloak.

"I thought you might see it that way." Erestor chuckled to himself. "If you go up the stairs and take the left-hand corridor, your chamber is the sixth door on the right."

"Hennad." The one word was icy.

"You are most welcome." The sarcasm was clear once more. It was studiously ignored.

Ruthwen, her nose in the air, hurried away from them, Imles firmly on her tail.

"I have never dealt with such a willful, nasty elleth in my life!" They could all hear the exasperation in Bremoline's voice.

"She will learn. She was never like this as a child. What has happened to change her?" Erestor led them into the Last Homely House.

"She is convinced that it is her right to marry Thranduil now that our Queen is dead. She has not stopped to think that he does not wish it, will never wish it. No one could ever take the place of Minerella." Bremoline's voice was sad.

"Then she is terribly deluded." Erestor added.

"I think so. She will not admit that there is no hope. She will never..."

"Bremoline, is that you? The last time I saw you Legolas was being bounced upon your knee!" The voice made Bremoline startle, so intent had he been upon his chat with Erestor.

He turned to see...

---

(The previous night)

"Eirien? By Eru, what are you doing in Imladris?" Gailarphen could not keep the shock from his voice.

"I have injured with me. Elladan is in need of aid." Eirien was too tired to give any formal greetings.

"He will get aid. What happened?" Gailarphen helped lower Elladan from her arms where she held him before her on the horse. He was unconscious.

"Orcs." She fairly spat the word out.

"Ai! And this is?" He looked to the human on the horse beside her for the first time. "You! I never thought I would see the day that you disgraced us with your presence!"

"I have an injured elf here. If you let me down, I will give them care. I am a healer after all." The human tried to pull himself up to look more important. It failed as surely as the sun sets.

"I would never let you come within a league of touching one of my patients! And you will not do so now." Gailarphen was adamant about that.

"How do I know you are qualified to take care of my patients?" The corpulent human sneered at him. He did not notice Eirien slide down from her mount, but he noticed when she took the time to thump him hard. "Irfan, you bloody idiot, shut up or I will shut you up! Gailarphen knows more about healing than you ever will!" Her voice was cold.

Irfan puffed up like a frog. "How dare you talk to a healer like that?"

"Is that what you call yourself?" Gailarphen had to smile at Eirien's reply while he gave Elladan a quick look over. He was deeply unconscious and very feverish.

"I am a healer. I have been the Bree healer for over twenty years!" Irfan sounded affronted.

"You said the right words; 'have been.' You only managed to stay in that position due to bribery. You are no healer, trust me." Eirien turned from him. "How is Elladan?"

"Not good. What happened?" He shot a look at Elrohir who still lay in Irfan's arms upon the horse. He shuddered at the thought of being that close to the filthy human. Thelion stepped forward then and took Elrohir from the 'healer'.

As soon as Elrohir was out of the human's arms, the horse laid back his ears and shook his mane. Clearly it did not like the weight, or smell, of the human upon his back. Irfan finally got the message that he had better dismount when the bay stallion stomped his hoof and snorted. He nearly fell off the horse in his haste.

Eirien turned her attention to answering Gailarphen's question. "Orcs attacked us as Elrohir was in the midst of a vision and our attention was diverted. They got through our defences. I fear that the blade that wounded Elladan was poisoned."

"Hennad." Gailarphen handed Elladan over to Neithan and several other junior healers who had accompanied him. "Take them to their chambers."

Eirien looked around. "Elrond? Is he here?" She knew that her old friend should be nearby. She was surprised he had not met them.

"Later. Are you injured?" He did not have the time to get into this discussion with Eirien. He knew what her reaction would be.

"No, fortunately I am unharmed." She was worried when he would not tell her anything about Elrond.

"Good. You are in need of warm food and rest. Come." He ushered her up the stairs, stopping at the door.

Irfan grumbled behind them, under his breath, about rude elves not asking if he was injured.

"Stay there, Irfan!" Gailarphen commanded.

"You know me?" Surely he would have remembered this elf if he had met him before?

"Yes, we have met, though you were a lot younger..." His wrinkled his nose. "…and cleaner. Nostad lín sui orch!"

The human bristled with indignation though he hadn't understood the words. He was sure he had just been insulted.

"Before you come into the healing ward, you will bathe and dress in clean clothes. If you do not, you will sleep in the stables with the horses. Do you understand?" Privately, Gailarphen thought that was being grossly unfair to the horses.

"A bath would be nice." The human's voice was snide.

Eirien gaped at him. She had never known him to bathe, ever.

"Good, there is plenty of hot water. You may need to have many changes before you are finished." Gailarphen had to smile at Eirien's snicker. "Erestor, we have two more guests who need chambers."

The scholar had come to greet them. "Mae govannen, Eirien, it is good to see you once again."

"Good day, Erestor, it has been too long. You are well?" She thought he looked tired, but it was often hard to tell with elves, they hid things so well.

Erestor took in her tired, pale features. "I am well. Are you? You look weary, and seeing the twins in that condition, I feared for your wellbeing." He was only too glad that Elrond could not see his sons being brought home unconscious once again. He then inwardly cringed at that thought. Elrond will see again, he must believe that.

"I know it is worrying. It will be nice to be warm again. The nights are very cold at this time of the year." Eirien entered first after Erestor gestured for her to do so.

Irfan was about to do the same when the door was closed unceremoniously in his face. It opened a moment later and Erestor looked out at him. "Someone should be here to show you where you can bathe. Ah, there they are. Once you are clean, and only once you are clean, can you come into the house." He closed the door once more.

Irfan stood there gaping at the closed door. "Hir nin?" The voice came from behind him.

He turned. It was a young elf. He looked, to the human's inexperienced eye, to be barely past his teens. Irfan began to smirk, at last, someone he could order around.

"What do you want?"

"If you would follow me, a bath is being prepared for you." The elf ignored his reaction.

"Show me to my room and get me some food. I don't need a bath!" This was going to be too easy.

"I cannot do that, Hir-nin, I am under instructions and I intend to follow them." The elf raised one eyebrow at the human.

"Look, I know you are young and are probably trying to impress your boss, but trust me, I don't need to take a bath. I know what it's like to have been young once. You are trying too hard." Irfan tried to ingratiate himself. If he could get even one elf on his side…

"You are the one who does not understand, Hir Irfan. You will bathe or you will spend the night in the stables with the horses. Those are my orders." The elf bent to his ear as if sharing a confidence. "I am not young."

"Not young? You have to be joking. You are what, twenty, at the most?" Irfan wanted to laugh. Who did this upstart think he was?

"No, I am seven hundred and twenty two. Now, if you follow me, I will see if we have some fresh clothes for you." Celeg walked away, a small smile on his calm face. He may have looked outwardly calm but inside Celeg was frantically thinking where he could get clothes big enough to cover the huge human's girth. No one in Imladris was so large.

Irfan grumbled all the way to the bathing chamber. Never had he been so insulted in his life and by a boy no less! He did not need a bath and what was wrong with his clothes? He would get his own back. He would make them see his worth!

Seven hundred and twenty-two indeed! Did they really think him to be stupid?

---

Eirien stood inside the great hallway of the Last Homely House. It felt so good to get out of the cold, biting wind. She loosened her cloak before turning to speak once more with Gailarphen.

"The boys are being seen to?"

"Yes, they are in very capable hands. We need to see to you now." He tried to lead her towards the stairs. Erestor had gone ahead to prepare a room for her. Eirien was not having that though.

"I need to speak with Elrond if that is alright, Gailarphen? Bree has been attacked and is in need of aid." There were too many reasons for her to talk to Elrond.

"That is not possible at present, Eirien. He is..."

"What! He is what? He is injured, isn't he? I told him that he should not have left. I also told him what would happen if he fell from his horse while having one of those visions!" Eirien was building up into a fine rage fueled by concern for her friend.

"Peace, Eirien. Elrond did not fall from his horse, at least not that I have been told about. Elrond has been injured, but he is healing."

"Take me to him." It was nothing short of an order.

"Eirien, it is late and my patients need their rest, as do you." Gailarphen's stance was stern. He was much taller that Eirien and almost towered over the shorter human woman, however, it did nothing to intimidate her.

"Either you take me to him or I will find him myself!" She had an idea where the House of Healing was to be found from her last visit to Rivendell.

"Very well." Gailarphen knew when he was beaten.

He led the way to the doors that opened into the healing ward, but he stopped short of opening the door and turned back to speak with Eirien. She needed to be prepared for what she would see.

Most of the patients were asleep, apart from Thranduil, who lay watching his son in his arms. Legolas was sucking his thumb in his sleep, something the King had not seen for some time.

The door burst open and made him jump. Legolas gave a small mewl of pain before he settled again. Thranduil looked up to see who had startled him.

"Eirien?" He was openly gaping.

"Thrandy, Phen told me what happened! How are you? You must be so sore. And you're too thin! I need to make you some of my special stew. That will put the meat back on your bones." She barely stopped to draw breath between words, though she did keep her voice low in deference to the other patients.

"Sîdh, Eirien. I am well." She snorted at that. "Well, better anyway."

"Then why are you so pale and why are you not allowed to get out of bed?" He could not really answer that.

"Master Healer Gailarphen is being over-protective. I could be up and about with no..."

"Don't you dare! I will tie you to the bed if you even think it!" Eirien had her hands on her hips in a stance that Thranduil knew all too well.

"Well, I..."

"Thranduil, who is this adorable little fellow?" She had just noticed Legolas sleeping in his arms.

"This is my son, Legolas, Eirien." Thranduil smiled at her reaction.

"He needs some stew. Phen, where can I make my stew?" She turned to the dark-haired healer.

"I would love for you to make your stew for Legolas, but at the moment he is unable to eat properly."

"I will make him a broth then and some stew for Thrandy." She would not be dissuaded from this.

"Perhaps a little later, when you are rested Eirien. You have had a difficult couple of days." Gailarphen was aware that she was running on nothing more than adrenaline. He had deduced that she had not slept the night before and had traveled hard and fast throughout the day to get the twins help as quickly as possible.

"I am fine." She waved him away.

"That is why you are swaying on your feet?" Thranduil sounded stunned.

"I am not..." She suddenly realised that she was indeed wavering from side to side. "I am." There was surprise in her voice.

"Come, sit down." Gailarphen's voice was firm as he took her arm.

She did not answer, but let herself be led to a chair. Now that they had reached Rivendell safely, she suddenly realised just how tired she was.

"How is Legolas?" She gave a tired sigh.

"Very ill, but he is better than he was." It was a relief for Thranduil to be able to say that.

"I hear that Rondy is injured as well." It was not a question.

"Aye, he is resting behind you, as is Glorfindel." Thranduil nodded his head to where the others were sleeping.

She turned to see them both asleep. From the position she was in, she could not see the bandages around Elrond's head and the covers hid his other bandages.

"Good, they are sleeping. I won't wake them." She turned back to Thranduil. "I also have a bone to pick with you, Young Man!"

"You do?" Thranduil sounded amused. Only Eirien had ever called him 'Young Man.'

"Yes I do. I want to know why you sent no word to us of Minerella." The sudden flash of pain and loss that crossed his face made her stop. "Oh, Thranduil, I am sorry. I did..."

"I could not write, Eirien. If I wrote it down, it would have been real. I do not want it to be real. This way, she is waiting for me in Mirkwood, for when we return." His voice was soft and anguished.

"But, Thrandy you have to..."

"My head tells me I must go on, but what my heart still desires…" His voice sank to a whisper as his throat tightened with unshed tears. "Would that I had died that day." Thranduil found himself blinking back tears. Why had this suddenly hit him so hard? And why now?

"Now listen to me, Young Man! Yes it is terribly sad that Minerella is no longer with us. Yes, it is unfair, but you have to carry on, for this little one's sake." She brushed the youngster's soft golden hair, so like his father's. Legolas murmured before sucking on his thumb once more.

"I know. I tell myself the same thing each morning and then again before I settle. Legolas has been so ill. He was so badly injured and I almost lost him as well. I could not bear it. "

"He is safe and warm in your arms, Thranduil, hold on to that. You will meet Minerella again some day, I am sure. The love that you held for each other could not be stopped by death. The Valar would not be that cruel."

Thranduil could only mutely shake his head. Eirien needed no further bidding. She rose and moved to sit beside him, gathering both of them in her arms, for comfort.

"It hurts, Eirien, it hurts so much." Thranduil could no longer prevent the tears from falling. Seeing his old friend had just brought everything to the fore. Her unexpected embrace just crumbled the last of his defenses against the tears.

"I know, my friend, but it will get easier. I promise you it will get easier." She had tears running down her face as well at the thought of the beautiful Queen that she had loved like a sister from their first meeting.

Neither of them noticed when the screens were placed around the bed to allow them privacy. Gailarphen was content. Thranduil needed this release. So much had happened since Minerella's death, so much that had forced his friend to put everyone else first and his own pain last. He had never truly had a chance to mourn his loss, until now. Healing could begin at last.

Seeing Eirien had been perhaps the best thing to happen to Thranduil for some time. They had all tried to help the King with his grief, but none had been able to reach him. Gailarphen was pleased that someone had finally broken through the barriers that Thranduil had erected around his pain and grief, even if it had been unintentional.

He quietly moved away, across to where Nestoron lay. Faelien was awake and watched with tears in her eyes.

"Is Aran Thranduil alright?"

"He will be, in time." Gailarphen patted her shoulders. "It takes time to recover from such a great loss as he suffered. Legolas will help with that."

"Good, I am glad." Faelien wiped her eyes and turned to Gailarphen. "How is Nesty?" She could not believe how different it felt to be the relative of a patient and not the Healer. She felt so useless, so helpless.

"Let me see." Gailarphen reached to feel for his pulse, counting silently. "His pulse is nice and stable. I will look at his leg and arm."

Faelien gave a relieved smile. Just knowing that the threat of internal bleeding was lifted helped more than she could have put into words.

Gailarphen, working with Idhron, removed the bandages and splints to look at the wound on Nestoron's leg. He was well pleased to see that the wound was knitting at a good pace.

"That is good. He is healing well. See how the wound is closing nicely." He pointed out the healing on the wound and was pleased to see the smile that crossed Faelien's pale features.

Together they washed and dressed the wound before replacing the splint on the leg. Rather than remove the splint on Nestoron's arm, he gently felt the arm. That too was healing rapidly. "His healing ability has kicked in well. He will need much rest, but I am sure he will be well, given time. His back is another matter. Idhron, gather Tirith and Thelion and we will roll him and look at his spine."

"Of course, Master Gailarphen." Idhron hurried off.

"You really feel that Nestoron will be well?" Faelien had clutched Nestoron's hand between her own again.

"Yes, I do, I truly believe it." Gailarphen was looking into Nestoron's eyes. "They are responding well."

"Hannon-le, Gailarphen, neither of us can thank you enough. We will be a true family because of all of you."

"What could friends do, other than help?" Gailarphen smiled at her.

"You and Mithrandir have helped more than you could know. You have saved my family." Gailarphen saw the earnest glow in her eyes, she truly believed it.

"Just be happy, that is all I want." The other healers arrived then and, with their aid, Nestoron was rolled gently onto his side, making sure that they did not jostle him at all.

Nestoron gave a low moan, but they did not stop. The sooner they got him into position the better it would be for him.

"Nesty?" Faelien sat forward on the seat.

Bleary eyes opened to look at her. "Fae?" His voice was almost as croaky as Elrond's was.

"I am here, Meleth. How do you feel?" Faelien was happy and relieved now that Nestoron was awake and actually talking to her.

"Pain." He licked his dry lips.

"I will get you some water when Gailarphen has finished with you." Faelien assured him.

"Hennad." A deep groan escaped him as Gailarphen pressed a particularly painful spot on his back. The healer's dark head appeared from behind him.

"You felt that?" The question was urgent.

"Yes." It was part word, part groan.

"That is good. It is below the injury. Can you feel anything?" Gailarphen was more than just a little pleased at hearing this.

"No."

"Alright, let us lay him back." Soon Nestoron was lowered back onto the bed and secured back in place. "Hennad." Gailarphen thanked the healers for their help and allowed them to return to their tasks.

Once alone again, Gailarphen removed the covers from Nestoron's leg and retrieved a pin from his healing pack. "I need to see what you feel. Tell me if you feel anything, anything at all."

For the next few minutes he proceeded to prod and poke Nestoron. Finally, he finished and set the pin back in its pouch.

"That is good, mellon-nin. The feeling in your legs is definitely coming back. I need not tell you that you will have greater pain as the feeling returns. I will make certain that you have plenty of poppy tea for the first few days. Legolas is having small doses of it as well.

"Legolas, how is he?" Faelien was helping Nestoron sip some water, but it slid down the wrong hole and made him cough. It caused him to gasp as the pain from his broken ribs consumed him.

"Easy, meleth, try not to cough, it will hurt." Faelien fussed over him.

"I think he has realised that Fae." Gailarphen could not help but tease.

She glowered at him before turning her attention back to her bonded. "Try to take deep breaths, Nesty, they will help. I am sure Gailarphen will have the medicine for you very soon. Will you not?" She shot another glare at him.

"Indeed, it is ready as we speak." He had made plenty earlier, anticipating that Nestoron would need it.

"Hennad." Nestoron closed his eyes against the rising pain.

Gailarphen handed over the tea so that Faelien could help his friend take it.

"I had better go and check on Thranduil. All this upset will not help his heart. You can manage here, Fae?"

"Of course, Gailarphen, I know that Aran Thranduil has been a source of anxiety." Faelien had watched earlier when Thranduil had an attack.

"Hennad." He rose and straightened his robes. He had taken two steps when a panicked cry filled the air.

"Phen! Help!" It was Eirien. There was an unusual amount of panic in her voice. Rarely had he heard such fear in someone who had faced wargs and orcs without trembling. He ran the rest of the short distance. He was dimly aware that Thelion and Idhron had joined him. He really was pleased with the young trainee healer. He was showing great promise.

He pulled the screens to one side and hurried in. Thranduil had silver tear tracks running down his cheeks and he was clutching his chest, over his heart.

"Eirien?"

"He can't breathe! Help him!" She was practically holding Thranduil up in an effort to help him breathe.

"Thelion, the herb!" He knew that the other healer would know exactly which he was talking about and did not even watch as Thelion hurried back out of the screens. He felt in his pocket for the packet he had prepared earlier, thanking the Valar for the fact that he had placed some of the heart-helping herb in the pocket of his robe. He pulled it out and reaching Thranduil's side he pulled open the blue lips and placed the powdered leaves under his tongue. He gently closed it and looked into the King's panicked eyes.

"This will help. When it comes, the tea will help you relax. Try and take steady breaths as the powder dissolves. Follow my breathing." He took deep steady breaths. He was aware of how ragged and uneven Thranduil's breathing really was.

"What is wrong? What is happening?" Eirien was terrified for her friend.

"Later." Now was not the time. "Keep breathing." The panic slowly left Thranduil's blue eyes. "Better?"

Thranduil did not speak. He did not have the air to spare yet. He nodded.

"Good. Has the powder dissolved?" Another nod. "Good, your tea should be here any... here it is." Gailarphen helped him to drink the tea. He then gave him some fresh water to wash away the bitter taste.

Once finished with that, he took Thranduil's pulse. It was still racing. He waited patiently while the herbs did their job and Thranduil relaxed against the pillows, eyes half-closed in exhaustion. "Rest now, mellon-nin. We will make sure that Legolas is safe."

It was the last thing that Thranduil heard as he slid into sleep, his eyes closed. Gailarphen turned to Eirien, aware that he would have to answer several questions.

"Well? Will you tell me now?" She was not in the mood to be ignored.

"Yes." He tiredly rubbed his face. "Thranduil was struck by lightning..."

"What? How and when?" Eirien demanded, more worried than ever.

"A few days ago, Thranduil, Legolas, Doroniel and Calandor were all caught in a lightning strike. They all have damage to their heart in various degrees. The one with least damage so far is Legolas. As for the others, Calandor stopped breathing and had to be revived. Doroniel collapses if she does anything strenuous and that includes just standing. Thranduil seems to be the worst affected. When he becomes worried or emotional, he has attacks such as the one you just witnessed." Gailarphen was brutally honest. Why hide just how bad things were?

"What are you doing to help?" Eirien was biting her lip.

"Just what you saw me give. In fact, they all need another dose."

"I will stay with Thranduil. Legolas needs some?"

"Yes, he does. In his condition I doubt that he could survive another attack, even as mild as his are." Gailarphen reached for more of the herb.

"His condition?" Eirien turned worried eyes to him.

"Legolas has a fractured skull and a head injury, but his leg…" He shook his head sadly. "It is still doubtful if he will keep it, the infection is so bad and it is also fractured."

"Poor mite, he has been through so much." Eirien had tears in her eyes once more.

"Yes, he has, but he is strong. I am sure that he will surprise us once more." He watched as Eirien smoothed the mussed hair away from his face. She then got her first good look at Legolas' face. She gasped and turned alarmed eyes to Gailarphen's at the sight of his bruised and swollen forehead.

"He hit his head."

"Can we move him?" Eirien wanted nothing more than to cuddle the Prince in her lap.

"Yes, but I doubt that Thranduil or Legolas would allow it. As for his little friend…" The duckling was watching them with interest.

Eirien just noticed the little animal. "My word, a duckling!"

"Yes, his name is Fileg. He and Legolas seem to have bonded." To Eirien's surprise, the healer bent to the duckling. "Are you in pain?" He got a peep for his worries.

"He says yes, Gailarphen, although it is much better than it was earlier." Thoronneth told them from his post, watching them from the window above. The other two Eagles were away, hunting and sleeping.

Eirien blinked, a look of awe on her face as she realised for the first time that a Great Eagle was watching them.

"Eirien, this is Thoronneth."

"Hello, Thoronneth." Eirien's eyes were wide with wonder. "I have heard of your kind, but never had the opportunity to meet any of you until today."

"Hello, Eirien." Thoronneth bobbed his head.

"You can talk to the duckling?" The wonder still shone in her eyes.

"Yes, so can Legolas." Thoronneth added.

"Legolas? He can speak to the animals? I have never heard of such a thing." Eirien was stunned.

"He is very dear to us all." Eirien turned to see where the voice had come from. It was Doroniel. "He has abilities that are truly rare, even among my own kin. Even Thranduil does not possess these gifts."

"He is a true treasure then." Eirien was certain of this. More certain than she had ever been about anything.

"I agree. I am Doroniel. It is a pleasure to meet you." Doroniel lifted her hand to her chest and gave the traditional elven greeting.

Eirien returned it. "I am Eirien of Bree."

"Thranduil has spoken of you, Eirien. It is a pleasure to put a face to the name." Doroniel tried to sit up in the bed. Before she could do anything, Idhron was there to help her. She was grateful. She had never felt so weak in her life.

"He does? All good, I hope?" Eirien's grin was cheeky.

"Oh yes, very good. I have heard all about your encounters with orcs and wargs! And what he said..." She broke off as the chamber door flew open.

"What is the meaning of this?" Gailarphen stood and hurried to intercept the intruder in his healing ward.

Irfan stood framed in the doorway. At any other time Gailarphen would have laughed aloud at the ridiculous sight the human made. He was clean, much cleaner than he had ever seen him. His hair, amazingly, was not a dirty brown as it had appeared before but a strawberry blond and curly, if a little balding on top. His hair had been shorn. It would appear that it had been a last resort. Gailarphen shuddered to think what must have been under the mats.

"I demand to see my patients!" He tried to sound important and dignified. The fact that they had been unable to find clothes big enough to fit Irfan's corpulent form was beside the point. He seemed to be wrapped in a bed sheet.

"Your patients?" Gailarphen could not believe what he had just heard.

"My patients, the two boys that were brought in with me, I have been treating them and think it would be better to take over their care from a youngster like you." He looked down his nose at the elf. Quite a feat, since Gailarphen was over a foot taller than him.

"Get Out!" Gailarphen ground the words out.

"What? No! I demand to see my patients!" Irfan pulled the bed sheet he had draped around him together to stop it from revealing his body.

"You have no right to demand that. They are now under my care and will not be touched by you." Gailarphen was fully prepared to back that up with actions if need be.

"You? And how long have you been practicing as a healer, Boy?" There was a sneer in his voice as he looked at the tall, young-looking elf in front of him.

Gailarphen drew his breath to tell this upstart what he thought of him, but he never got the chance. Another voice cut across him.

Eirien stepped forward, her hand unwittingly rested on her sword. "You bloody stupid fool! Look around you. This is more a place of healing than you have ever had the chance to stand in! I have known Lord Elrond for all of my life. My parents and all the way back to my grandparents and their parents have been his friends. Gailarphen here is over four thousand years old and knows more about healing in his small toe than you have in your entire fat flabby body! Get out now or I will chase you out of Rivendell as I chased you out of Bree!" Eirien was really warming up to her attack.

"How dare you speak to me in that manner? You wait until we get back to Bree, I will..."

"What? Try to get my family more penalised by the Mayor than we already are?" She had moved toward him and got as close as she was comfortable with. "You think I don't know that you helped in that?" She poked him in his chest. "I know that you deliberately did not treat Wolraven in the hopes that he would die. I also know that it was at your suggestion he was removed from his position in the Home Guard." She gave him another poke.

Irfan stepped back from the irate woman. This was all too reminiscent of what had happened in Bree. "I did no such thing, Woman! You are insane!"

"Ah yes, the old standby. If someone does not agree and prostrate themselves at your feet, you go back to that old chestnut!" Eirien speared Irfan in place with her eyes. Gailarphen enjoyed watching this just a little too much.

"And you are an interfering old gossip who enjoys nothing more than ruining other's lives and careers. Now get out of my way and tell me where my patients are! I will not take no for an answer." He stuck his chest out pompously.

Gailarphen could not, would not, stand by to see Eirien slandered in that manner.

"Enough! Apologise to Eirien and get out. This is my healing ward and you are not welcome here. You have not and will never have any patients here. If you no longer have any patients, I would say that is your own doing and no one else's."

"Phen!" The weak rasping voice made him turn his head.

"Elrond? Mellon-nin?" He hurried to his side.

"No rights here. He is a quack… should have no patients. As Lord…of Imladris, I say… he touches… no patient here. If he does, he is…arrested… and put… under guard." Elrond's voice grew weaker and hoarser by the minute and he had to pause because of the choking pain in his throat, but it gave Gailarphen the ammunition he needed.

"I understand, Elrond, now no more talking, at all." Elrond gave a small nod, suppressing a cough. Gailarphen then turned back to Irfan. "My Lord has spoken. You have heard his words."

"He is not right in..."

"Avo bedo! Do not!" That really was the last straw for Gailarphen. "You will not insult Lord Elrond! How dare you!" He drew himself up to his full height and his grey eyes flashed in a way that was rare for him. "Get out and stay out! Guard!"

A guard hurried in from outside the healing ward. "Hir-nin?"

"Get this... this… man out of here! He is not to be allowed back into the healing ward, under Hir Elrond's orders. If he so much as places a finger inside, he is to be detained. I also want to know why he was allowed to enter when you had specific instructions due to our guests. I will speak to you all later." Gailarphen was in a fine temper now.

"Of course, Hir-nin." The guard lost all colour from his face. "Come with me." The guard glared at Irfan.

"No." Irfan felt that, at his age, he had the upper hand. He certainly did not believe, had never believed, the claims that elves were immortal and appeared young throughout their life. This child could play at being a guard if he wished but there were limits.

Thus it was that the hands that suddenly gripped his arms and lifted him bodily caught Irfan quite by surprise. No one could lift his weight so easily.

"You heard what Master Healer Gailarphen said. You are not wanted or needed here."

Eirien had to hide her amusement as Irfan was literally carried from the chamber, the sheet covering him slipped slightly. Then, she realised how bad Elrond had sounded and moved quickly to his bedside. What she saw made her gasp.

"Gailarphen, you did not tell me Elrond was this ill. What else are you hiding from me?" She knelt beside his bed "Elrond? Old friend?"

"He cannot talk to you, Eirien. He has damaged his throat and has talked too much already." Gailarphen was amused to see her fussing with Elrond's covers and then throwing that to the wind, she suddenly caught him up in a huge bone-crushing hug.

Gailarphen could only wince at the pained groan that Elrond could not withhold. It was too late to warn her of his burns.

"Oh Rondy, I am sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." She smoothed his hair back. "His eyes, Phen?"

"They will recover given time, as will Elrond."

"Good, until then I will look after you, Rondy. Soup, you need soup. That will help." She was talking to herself and then she noticed Glorfindel. "Glorfy! You did not tell me Glorfy was injured as well." She narrowed her eyes. "Is there any elf I know that has not been injured?"

"I am uninjured." Gailarphen was actually pleased about that. The thought of anything otherwise at the moment was unthinkable.

"Just how did you manage that?" Eirien was plumping the cushions beneath Elrond. She was oblivious to the pained look on his face because the bandage covered his eyes.

"Lucky, I would guess. Eirien, please, sit down." Gailarphen could see how exhausted she was. She was also causing Elrond great discomfort, though he could tell she meant well.

"What of Glorfy?" She ignored him.

"An infected bite, but he is better." He could see that Eirien would not rest of her own accord. "Thelion, could you make some tea saes?" He knew when he stressed the word, that Thelion would understand him. It was a long-standing 'code' they had used when dealing with less-than-cooperative patients.

"Of course. Idhron, come along. You can make it so that I can see how you do." Thelion liked Idhron. He was so pleasantly different from his fellow trainee.

"This is better?" Eirien sounded shocked. What had caused such massive bruises on Glorfindel? He looked like he had been kicked around by a troll.

"Yes, he is much better. If you think this is bad, you should have been here for his nightmares brought on by the fever delirium." Gailarphen could not keep the memory from playing in his mind.

"Poor, Glorfy." Eirien had moved to fuss over the blond elf. Gailarphen shook his head in amusement, she would never change. He had never met anyone who wanted to 'mother' those she cared for as much as Eirien did.

He waited patiently until the tea was ready then handed a cup to her. "This will help warm you up, Eirien. I know it is cold outside."

"Thank you Gailarphen. That is kind of you." She gave him a sweet smile and for one minute he felt guilty at misleading her like this, but then it was for her own good.

"You are welcome, Eirien. Drink it while it is hot." He crossed to Elrond and whispered in his ear, "Your sons are home, mellon-nin. They are sleeping now but should be here to see you in the morning."

Gailarphen would swear that he saw Elrond visibly relax at his words. He knew that Elrond had been worried about his sons.

"Rest now, I will make sure that they see you on the morrow." He shot a smile at Eirien who was sipping her tea and beginning to look a little sleepy. Behind her, he could see that Idhron was readying a bed for her. She did not truly need a bed in the healing ward, but once asleep, which she would be in moments, she would be hard to move. A bed here would be a simple solution.

Eirien returned the smile and sipped the tea once more. She yawned widely and said to Elrond. "Your sons are fine lads, Rondy. You should be very proud of them.

Elrond nodded carefully to show that he was.

"Elladan fought well beside me. He was amazing." She took another sip of the welcome, warm tea.

Elrond frowned. Why was she speaking only of Elladan? Why had Eirien not mentioned Elrohir? He wished he could speak!

"I would be proud to have him fight beside me any day! I just wish that he did not hide his injuries the same as you!" She finished the tea and wavered a little in the seat as it began to really work. "I am so tired! I wonder...Phen, you didn't!" She turned accusing eyes to Gailarphen, who nodded happily in return.

"I did. You would not rest, Eirien, and I could see that you are exhausted. I know you too well, mellon-nin!" He caught her gently as she fell asleep where she sat. Idhron helped him to carry her to the prepared bed, remove her sword, boots, and cloak then cover her warmly.

As Gailarphen moved past his bed to check on Legolas, Elrond managed to catch his attention. Gailarphen knew he was worried about his sons. Eirien had not mentioned Elrohir by design and she had told him that Elladan was injured.

Gailarphen understood all too well what was going through Elrond's mind. "Elladan was caught by an orc blade. Linnathon is looking after him. Elrohir was sleeping. As soon as I know anything more, I will let you know. Rest." The latter was said firmly.

Elrond bit his lip but nodded and settled back, for once in his long life he could do nothing to help. He truly hated to feel this…helpless. It was more frightening than fighting any foe he had ever faced. Gailarphen gently patted his hand and placed it back on the bed before moving away.

Mithrandir still sat beside Legolas, his large hand smothering the smaller, paler hand. Their contrast was striking and a little alarming. An elf should not be this pale.

Mithrandir did not even look up as Gailarphen joined them. His eyes were closed in concentration and a deep frown marred his forehead.

Gailarphen did not disturb the Maia, but made his way around the bed. Once there, he felt the limp tiny wrist. He winced as he felt the heat that was rising from Legolas. This was not good. Legolas was even hotter than the last time he checked.

"Thoronneth?" He called softly to the Great Eagle.

"Yes, Gailarphen? How can I aid you?" Thoronneth turned his eyes towards him.

"What does the Song say about Legolas?" He would certainly be making use of this handy instrument.

Thoronneth stilled and seemed to listen for a bit. To the conscious elves in the chamber, he seemed to be concentrating on something they could not fully hear.

"It is discordant and unhappy. The trees fret with worry and the birds sing of pain. The wind tries to cool him, but cannot. It cries its fear to the skies."

Gailarphen shared a worried look with Thelion. This was not good. "Thelion I need a tea for fever and more poppy tea. And a mild tea for Fileg." The small yellow duckling was watching the elfling. He could tell it was worried, now that Gailarphen knew what to look for.

"Of course. Idhron?" Thelion called for the young trainee.

Gailarphen was pleased at that. They all seemed to have taken the new student under their wing, so to speak.

"Easy, Fileg, we will help you both." Gailarphen gently stroked the small head and got a worried peep for his pains. "He will get better I promise you, Penneth."

Once he had reassured the duckling, he counted the prince's pulse that sped along beneath his questing fingers. It was too fast and too uneven, a mixture of the fever and infection coupled with the damage to his heart from the lightning strike. He pulled more of the powdered leaves out of his pocket and gently placed them under the small tongue. At least with Legolas asleep they did not need to make the leaves into a paste. Gailarphen gently closed the mouth and kept it closed so that both the moisture and the heat could do its work to dissolve the powder.

Idhron carried the tea to his side. "Here is the tea, Master Gailarphen."

"Hennad, Idhron. I will need your help to give it to him. Is that for Fileg?" There was another cup in Idhron's hand.

"Yes. Healer Thelion said that it was what you made earlier for the duckling." He set the first cup next to Legolas and began to draw up the pain-killing fluid in the manner he had seen Gailarphen do before. When he was ready, Idhron handed it to the healer, practically glowing when he saw the approving look that Gailarphen gave him.

After working with Tarias, this was much better in Idhron's opinion. At least he was not being put down and belittled as Tarias did constantly.

According to Tarias, Idhron was not suitable as a healer, would never be a healer and should give in now. How had Tarias put it? "Stop wasting everyone's time and energy." That had hurt. Idhron put everything into his work. All he had ever wanted to be was a healer, ever since he had been a small elfling of only twenty-two and had broken his wrist. Elrond had treated him then. He had never looked back, but decided on his life's path then.

"You are doing very well, Idhron, I am pleased." A smile lit Idhron's face at that small praise. "Ease Fileg out of Caun Legolas' hands and hold him gently. Thoronneth, can you explain to him...?"

"He knows, Gailarphen." Much to Gailarphen's shock, when he turned back, the duckling had his beak open, waiting for them.

They fed the duckling the tea and settled him back on the bed beside Legolas, not in his arms, as that would hinder their examination, but close by so that should Legolas waken, even though that was highly unlikely, he could see his new friend.

"How is Caun Legolas?" Idhron watched him as he worked.

"Very feverish, his leg is precarious." Gailarphen hated to admit that. He felt Legolas' pulse once more, no change at all in the speed or rhythm. "Could you pass the tea and help me to sit him up?"

"Of course."

Later, Gailarphen would realise that then was where they made the mistake, that Legolas was not as stable as he had appeared, but by then it was too late.

They had barely moved Legolas when the febrile fit hit him. At least, that was what Gailarphen assumed it was at the time.

One moment Legolas had been relaxed and calm and the next he was jerking and foaming at the mouth.

"Thelion! I need the herbs we used earlier, paste form!" Both Gailarphen and Idhron were holding Legolas down to prevent him from causing any further injury to his already-compromised body.

"Get him on his side! Mind that leg!" Gailarphen called orders out even as they were working.

The air in the inner sanctum was suddenly charged as Legolas continued to convulse.

"What about Aran Thranduil?" Idhron was worried about the King waking and having another attack in the midst of all this.

"He will remain asleep. The herbs will see to that. Roll him onto his left side."

"Why his left side?" Even as he was helping to roll the elfling over and away from Thranduil, he recalled that he had asked and not been answered before. He still needed to know.

"It is the way that the bowel lays. If you lay him on his right side and try to force medicine in you could rupture the bowel. Thelion!" Gailarphen could feel the force of the seizure getting worse and not better. They had to get this under control.

Aged hands removed the duckling. "I will get Fileg out of your way." Mithrandir had released the small hand and hurried out of their way. "I will need to speak with you later when Legolas is more stable, Gailarphen."

"Alright." The remark was absentminded as Gailarphen was not really taking much notice of anything apart from Legolas.

Thelion quickly readied the paste and, as they watched, he gave the paste to the struggling elfling.

"Herbs are on board!" He called as soon as he was finished.

"Gailarphen? Legolas?" Doroniel was struggling to sit up and Elrond was also trying to sit.

"Later, let us work!" They did not have time for this. "Get tepid water, a lot of it. We need to cool him!"

Surprisingly, it was one of the two guards on the chamber door who had come in together, who hurried to get the water. Gailarphen could only nod his agreement. They could not have them just standing around gawking and staring.

Linnathon suddenly arrived, skidding to a halt beside them. Neithan and Ladeth were not far behind him.

"How can we help?" He was breathless, having run all the way from Elladan's chamber.

"See to Elrond and Dor. They should be resting, not worrying like this!" The last thing Gailarphen needed was to have Doroniel collapse when he could not get to her.

"Of course!" Linnathon turned to the other two. "Ladeth, see to Doroniel. Neithan, see to Hir Elrond. Give them tea if necessary!" They jumped to do his bidding.

"The seizures are not easing!"

"Ai! He has bitten his tongue!" Linnathon noticed there was blood mixed with the spittle that ran down Legolas' chin.

"Is that tea ready?" He wanted it available for when he could give it to Legolas. There was no opportunity while he was in the midst of the seizure like this.

"Yes!" There was pandemonium in the chamber as Legolas, despite the herbs, continued to fit.

It was becoming hard to hold him on the bed as the convulsions seemed to be getting stronger. Linnathon held onto Legolas' legs as he jerked. Even his injured leg was flying about, no matter how hard they tried to hold him still.

"More of the herbs?" Linnathon asked.

"Yes, they have had no effect!" A small hand hit Gailarphen in the eye and he blinked and shook his head. He was a little surprised at the force behind it. He could tell he would have a bad bruise later on.

"I will make it!" Thelion had already begun to ready the herbs.

"Double the strength!"

The other guard watched all this with a look of horror. He did not seem able to move nor take his eyes away from the small Prince.

A loud crack sounded in the chamber and caused everyone to shudder and stop what they were doing, apart from the elves that were battling the small Prince.

"I need it now, Thelion!" Gailarphen had an awful feeling that he knew what had caused that loud pop. He just hoped to the Valar that he was wrong.

"Ready!" Thelion literally ran back over to them. He did not stop, but administered the herbs without pause. Then he helped to prevent the Prince from hurting himself further.

"Sîdh, Legolas, it will be over soon, sîdh, Penneth." Gailarphen tried to soothe the small figure beneath him. He was just glad that Thranduil was not awake for this one. He would have had an attack without a doubt and it was exactly what he did not need. He had suffered too many attacks already

Gailarphen suddenly became aware of a low humming that seemed to fill the air. A humming like he had never heard before. He looked around for its source. It was calming and soothing at the same time.

It came from the window above them, from Thoronneth. The Great Eagle was singing.

Slowly, far too slowly for Gailarphen's peace of mind, Legolas began to relax. He stopped convulsing just as the guard returned with buckets of water and servants to help set up the bath.

"Set it up over there. I need to look him over!" Gailarphen pointed to a space near to Legolas' bed. With Idhron's help, he turned Legolas onto his back.

He bent and began checking him over, starting with his splinted leg. To his great puzzlement the splint on Legolas' leg was intact and the bone did not move beneath his questing fingers. His assumption was wrong. The callus on Legolas' leg was intact. It had not broken yet again.

"Master, look, his arm!" Idhron's shock and horror were almost palpable in the tense atmosphere.

Gailarphen looked up. The small right arm was swelling before his eyes. A bulge half-way up his arm was already discolouring. Gailarphen could not believe, did not want to believe, that this could be happening. Had this poor elfling not been through enough?

Sighing, Gailarphen gently picked up the thin limb. There was no doubt in his mind that it was broken. It could not be anything else. He could feel both the bones move.

"The arm is broken." It was a simple statement of the obvious.

"But… how? He did not hit it." Linnathon watched with worry etched on his features. He had known something was wrong, had felt it all the way in Elladan's chamber as he had treated his poisoned sword wound. He had just never expected to see what he had found. How could he explain the feeling that tugged at his awareness? That had cried out for him to return here?

Gailarphen's voice was weary and held a note of sadness. "I do not know. We can find that out later. I need a splint."

"I will get one, Gailarphen. Idhron, keep Caun Legolas' arm still. The last thing we need is for the break to cause muscle damage." Linnathon instructed the young healer. Idhron nodded and did as he had been directed.

"Why could it not have been his left arm?" Gailarphen muttered under his breath.

"Master Gailarphen?" Idhron was shocked at what he had heard.

"What? Oh, sorry, I was talking to myself." He had the grace to blush. "Caun Legolas is still having problems with his left arm from the lightning strike. It is tingling and hurting him. If the left had broken..."

"He would be better off." The logic was simple to Idhron. If he had broken the left arm, at least Legolas would be able to use one hand. As it was, he would now be struggling.

"Indeed." Gailarphen sounded thoughtful. "He would have to have help, but as it is…"

"Here is the splint, Master." Linnathon handed the splints over along with more bandages.

"Hennad. Make sure the water is the right temperature? We need to get his fever down. The last thing we need is another seizure like that." It worried Gailarphen. In fact, two things worried him.

First was Legolas seizure and fever and then the increasing attacks that Thranduil was having. They both seemed to be linked, but how?

---

The other guard was still watching from the doorway, standing still as a statue.

"What is happening?" The voice from right at his elbow made him jump. He had been watching the drama so intensely that an orc army could have marched in and he would not have noticed. He turned, his hand on the hilt of his sword, only to relax when he realised who it was.

"The Prince was seizing. He has broken his arm." He informed the Mirkwood scout.

"What?" Randis had seen the commotion and had come to the open door to see what was happening. Most of the healers were currently more interested in what was happening in the inner sanctum rather than watching the patients in the outer chamber.

"They think it is his fever..." The guard was talking to empty air. The Mirkwood scout was no longer there. He had moved into the inner ward.

"I would go no further." Mithrandir suddenly stood in front of Randis.

"What? Why? Mithrandir, what is..." He gaped at the Maia. He still held the small yellow duckling in his hands. "Is that a duckling?"

"It is indeed. His name is Fileg and as soon as he is able, he will be returned to Legolas." That earned a worried peep from the little fellow.

"Legolas would like that." Randis winced as the pain in his leg increased. He would regret standing, already regretted standing, but he needed to see what was happening.

"You should sit down. Gailarphen will not be pleased if you split your stitches again." Mithrandir told him.

"He will not? I would not be happy about it either!" Randis admitted. He let himself be led to a chair beside Faelien and Nestoron.

Faelien watched as they cared for Legolas and cried silent tears as she absently stroked her husband's hand.

"Are you alright, Híril?" Randis asked her worriedly as the tears continued to fall unchecked down her pale cheeks.

"Yes, but to see one so young in such distress…" She sniffed delicately.

"Legolas is strong. He will recover. He has made it thus far." Randis' words held quiet reassurance and she could tell that he believed every word that he said.

"Hennad." She brushed away the tears and gave him a watery smile.

"You are welcome." Randis took the time then to look around the chamber. His eyes finally rested on Doroniel. She was in a bed nearer to Legolas and Thranduil. One of the healers, Ladeth, was trying to get her to drink some tea. Even from here, he could see that she was fighting the healer for all her worth. And she called him stubborn?

"They are worried that her heart will have another attack. She has already had two since she arrived here." Faelien had noticed where he was looking.

"Why must she have the tea?" Randis had known of the worry attached to the damage that the lightning had done.

"To help her rest. They have already dosed Hir Elrond. They were both upset when the Caun began to seize. Elrond actually made it into a sitting position, but how he managed it, I do not know."

"That will have hurt him." He looked across at the sleeping Imladris Lord. He had sat up, in that condition? He did not look strong enough.

"Yes, that is why they insisted he take the tea."

"At least this seizure has stopped." Randis knew how awful it was to see that happen.

"Yes, finally. Ah, good, Doroniel has given in to taking the tea. Ladeth can be persuasive." Faelien sounded happy at that.

"Good, I would hate to tell Calandor that she has injured herself." Just the thought of having to do that made him shiver.

"Her bonded?" Faelien asked.

"Soon to be, it is through the Caun that they realised their love. They will be bonded within the year. Aran Thranduil has given his blessing and he will preside over the celebrations. A bonding will help our people see that there is still light and hope even in the ever-growing darkness that surrounds us." Randis explained to the junior healer.

"That will be good. Nestoron and I are expecting our first babe. It will help him to recover from this injury." She rested her hand gently on her flat stomach.

"That is wonderful news, Híril-nin. Merin sa haryalye alasse!" He smiled happily at her.

"Hannon le. I feared I had lost them both." A brief distressed look crossed her face at the memory.

"I am pleased that you have not. I count Nestoron among my friends." Randis looked at the sleeping healer strapped into the bed beside him.

Faelien was still watching what was happening with Legolas. "They are moving the Caun."

"Where are they moving him?" He turned to watch.

"To the bath, it must be his fever!" Faelien was worried all over again.

"Gailarphen will help him." Randis had faith in the Master Healer, though he had only known him a short time.

"He will surely do all in his power." She had to change the direction of the conversation. "Are you bonded?"

Randis' eyes filled with a sad longing. "Nay, my love took ship from Mithlond to Valinor two years ago. I will meet her there again someday and then we will bond." His heart ached with the recent loss of his love to those far White Shores.

"I would meet with her then, she will be lucky to have you." Her smile was sweet.

"You would like her, she is... What are they doing?" They seemed to be struggling with Legolas.

"Trying to bathe him. Do any elflings like taking a bath?" She gave a tinkling laugh.

"Not to hear my Naneth speak. She would curl your hair with tales of me as an elfling." Randis smiled in fond memory.

"A terror, I take it?" A twinkle of amusement brightened her eyes.

"According to Nana." He was still watching Legolas. Then he moved and a sharp pain drew him up short, he winced without realising it.

"What is wrong?" Faelien had noticed.

"My leg!" He pulled it gently to him.

"Let me see..."

"Gailarphen has..."

"Show Me." She had her 'healer's voice' on and he sighed before lifting his leg for her to see.

"There is no bleeding. I will not disturb the dressing, but you need to rest it and not be up and walking about on it." She looked at him so sternly that it brought home to him just who her tutor must have been.

"So I have been told." He had to admit wryly, yet he had a crooked smile on his face, like a naughty elfling caught in a small mischief.

"So?" Her eyebrows rose elegantly in inquiry.

"I will rest. I promise I will rest my leg."

Gailarphen called from where he and Thelion were bent over Legolas. "That is good to hear, mellon-nin. I will drug you otherwise."

"I would not put it past you!" Randis called back with good humor. The Eagle's song was making him drowsy.

"You are right not to do that!" Gailarphen shot the scout a sharp glance. "Do you need herbs for the pain?"

"Nay, it is fine." He glared at Faelien when she gave an elegant snort.

"I do not believe you. Linnathon, are you happy with Idhron making the tea?" Gailarphen was washing Legolas down with the assistance of Thelion, who held the splinted leg out of the tub.

"Yes, I am. He knows what he is doing!" Linnathon smiled at the young healer who suddenly looked incredibly nervous.

"Then, Idhron, I would like you to make our friend here a simple herb tea for pain." Gailarphen had his hands full of wet, squirming elfling who did not seem to want to be in the water.

"Yes, Master Gailarphen." He nodded and moved to do just that.

Gailarphen sighed. This night was going to be a long one, he could tell.

---

Morning dawned above Imladris. Sleepy animals began their morning routine long before Anor rose bright to warm the valley. Birds sang their joy to the world, rabbits gathered bracken to make their nests.

The elves of the community were also beginning to mark the start of their day. In the kitchen, the day's bread was already baking, well ahead of the need to break their fast. Songs could be heard as elflings woke to another day of joy and learning.

Elrond silently groaned his frustration. He wanted to be out there, amongst his people, making sure that all was well in their haven, not stuck in a bed being force-fed poppy tea! Alright, yes, he needed it because of the pain, but really, they were treating him as if he would break. And not being able to speak!

He also had a bone to pick with Gailarphen. Drugging him senseless when Legolas was suffering convulsions did not sit well with him at all, and then to be told that the small Prince had broken his arm during the fit… well, one did not need to look into Galadriel's mirror to know that Elrond was one very unhappy Elf Lord.

Gailarphen had also promised that he could 'see' his sons this morning, but had that happened? No! The fact that Anor had just begun her daily rise was beside the point. It was morning, for Valar's sake!

He huffed silently. He could not even do that properly. And his chest itched! He carefully moved his arm, maybe if he was surreptitious about it no one would notice if he scratched, or rubbed, more to the point. It was not his only source of discomfort at the moment either.

"If that hand goes anywhere near any of your wounds you will live to regret it, Rondy." And there it was. Another who wished nothing more than to torment him at every turn.

"You can stop glowering at me as well." Valar! She even sounded amused. "You need to drink this."

A cup was pressed against his dry, cracked lips. Did they truly think him mad? If he opened and drank the foul medicine he would go back to sleep and he was not having that. Not before he had 'seen' his sons.

"It is only water! The last thing you need is to get dehydrated." Oh yes, she was enjoying this all far too much.

"Rondy!" There was warning, but no, he would not be falling for that!

"I would give in, Elrond. You know Eirien is not going to stop until you do!" Glorfindel's voice came from his right. Elrond just frowned at him.

The cup was pressed against his lips once more. This time he turned his head away, but winced as the healing scalds on his face pulled the skin tight at the movement.

"Lord Elrond!" There was real exasperation in her voice now.

"Is there a problem?" Gailarphen had crossed over to them. He had witnessed some of the interplay from his station at Legolas' side. Thank the Valar, Legolas was now stable. The fit and fever from the past evening seemed to be nothing more than a bad dream. If it was not for the elfling's splinted arm, or his sore eye, Gailarphen might almost believe it was.

"Elrond will not drink!" Eirien told the healer, a ring of triumph in her tone.

"Is that true? You know you need to drink, mellon-nin." Gailarphen frowned at his friend.

He had seen that stubborn set to Elrond's face before, in two beings actually, Elladan and Elrohir. Elrond would never admit it, but the stubborn streak ran in the family, almost as bad as the one that ran right through the middle of the Mirkwood Royal family. Although, at present, Gailarphen was pleased that it did run through their veins. It seemed that it was the only thing keeping them in Middle-earth.

Elrond shook his head, frustrated that he could not seem to make them understand.

"Elrond, you have lost a lot of fluid that you can ill afford. If you do not drink, you could well begin to have problems with your kidneys..." Gailarphen stopped as he took in the pitiful figure of his friend. He was hunched over and looked to be in a lot of discomfort, but that was not all. The discomfort was clearly not from his scalds and burns. No it was from another source altogether.

Gailarphen looked around, the healers had changed shift and the only one still on duty from the previous evening was Gailarphen himself.

"Talagan, could you bring the screens over? Eirien, I will have to ask you to wait in the outer chamber. Elrond needs our help."

"But I can help, Phen! What does he need? Soup? A wash?"

"You cannot help with this, Eirien. Elrond needs some MALE help, and a little privacy." He stressed the word male. The sudden understanding in her eyes made him smile. She nodded and turned to leave as a blush rose over her cheeks. Valar! To think that she had almost offered to...

Gailarphen watched as she practically fled the inner sanctum, her face a flaming red. It was very unusual to see the Shield Maiden of Bree flee like this. He moved back to Elrond, chuckling to himself as he went.

Once the screens were placed around Elrond though, he waved the others away. Elrond was too proud to let any of his trainees see him like this.

"Eirien has gone, Elrond. It is just me here now. Shall we see about getting you more comfortable?" Elrond nodded, glad that someone had finally realised his need.

Ten minutes later, a much-relieved Elrond relaxed against the pile of pillows stacked against the headboard behind him.

"Better, mellon-nin?" A nod. "Will you now drink the water for me?" A frown "It is only water, I promise you." A reluctant nod. "Good, you need the fluid. If you drink this water, I will go and see how your two terrors fare and, if they are well, I will bring them back down to see you."

Gailarphen had rarely seen water drunk so fast!

"Very good, I will go now. Later I need to check your eyes and throat, but that can wait until you have visited with Elladan and..."

"Master Gailarphen! Master!" It was Tarias. He ran headlong into the healing wing, calling loudly, with no thought of being quiet in deference to the patients. He looked both excited and flushed, a little too excited for Gailarphen's liking.

"That is quite enough, Tarias! What is the problem?" Why did this young ellon make him feel so irritated?

"You are needed at the front, Master!" Tarias ignored the tone of Gailarphen's voice.

"There are injured, lots of injured!"

"Injured? Where are they from?" Gailarphen was already reaching for his pack.

"It is the Mirkwood party…" Tarias actually wrinkled his nose, as if in disgust. "…but also some from Lothlorien."

"I see, very well. Talagan you are in charge here, Tarias you are to stay by Talagan's side. Talagan, he is to do nothing unsupervised."

"Yes, Master Gailarphen. Tarias." He pulled the young ellon away.

"What! No! I came to tell you!" This was what healing was all about, the excitement, the rush, not making tea and holding hands! "No one else has come to tell you... this is unfair! If it was Idhron, you would have him by your side!" Tarias' last comment was said with a snide glare. His tone was nasty, as if insinuating something unpleasant.

Gailarphen stopped at the door. He turned slowly, counting to ten slowly as he did so,

Tarias stood glaring at him. Talagan watched, open mouthed. Had he just heard right? He could not believe the new student would dare!

"That is enough, Tarias! Leave! I will have someone send for you when I am free to see you. Until then, you are not needed here." He would not have anyone behave this way, especially a new student. He looked to Elrond as he nodded his agreement with everything Gailarphen said. His face was set in an irritated glare.

"You are sending me off duty? Why? I have..."

"Argued and complained, hurt my patients, been rude to me. I suggest, while I am dealing with this emergency, that you should go away and contemplate your suitability for training to be a healer, because, from what I have seen, I really do not think that you are suitable. Now leave, before I have you removed!"

Gailarphen did not even wait to see if he was obeyed. There were injured that needed his help.

As he arrived at the front door of the Last Homely House, it was just in time to hear Captain Bremoline's stunned voice say. "Eirien!"

"Bremoline, you look dreadful!" Gailarphen smiled at the worry in Eirien's voice. Forever a worrier was the warrior maiden.

"It has been a rather difficult couple of weeks." Captain Bremoline actually groaned as he eased himself off of his horse.

Healers and aides rushed to help them. Erestor organised the help with aplomb.

Gailarphen stepped forward. "Are there any seriously injured?" From first glance they were all on their feet or moving under their own power.

"Just Lathron, he is... uhm... very sore at the moment!" Craban called from the back of the group.

The others laughed in amusement while Lathron groaned. His friends would never let him live it down. The ride had not been easy for him at all, and it only seemed to fuel their mirth if he complained. He took it with good humour, but it did get old quickly.

"Why? What has happened?" Eirien searched them all for signs of injuries.

"Caun Legolas kicked him somewhere...sensitive." Rithlin helpfully supplied.

"Which of you is Lathron?" Eirien demanded, Gailarphen was already treating a wound on Bremoline's arm, but luckily none of them were injured too badly.

"I am." Lathron admitted sheepishly, blushing as he limped forward.

"Come with me, dear child, I have a cream that will help ease that pain." There were smothered snorts from around them. "My eldest child always seemed to get injured there when he was out playing, I know just the thing." Eirien led him inside.

One by one the area cleared as the elves were either taken to their chambers for rest or helped into the healing ward.

Bremoline helped Faergon into the healing wing so that his wounded arm could be looked at properly. Currently it was safely nestled in a sling.

"How are Legolas and Thranduil?" Bremoline asked Gailarphen as they entered the healing ward and settled Faergon on a bed.

"Thranduil is stable, at least more than he was. Legolas." He sighed, "Legolas is..."

"His fever has broken, Hir Gailarphen!" Ladeth skidded to a halt beside them.

"Who?" Gailarphen turned to ask her, urgency clear in his tone.

"Caun Legolas, his fever just broke!" She was smiling at him, truly smiling.

"That is wonderful news! Mayhap now he will begin to recover. We have been greatly worried!" Bremoline beamed at them all. The news was a great relief to him.

"I agree that it is good news, but we must remain cautious. Caun Legolas is still very ill and has a long recovery ahead. Hannon le Ladeth, for bringing me word, I will be along with Bremoline shortly."

"I will let Talagan know." She bowed and hurried back to the inner ward.

"Did you have any problems on the remainder of your journey?"

"Not really, we met some orcs coming off the Misty Mountains but we managed them." Bremoline sighed with relief. They were all safe. He could relax.

"Craban was incredible!" Faergon stated.

"Really? Were there many?" Gailarphen began to remove the old bandage from Faergon's shoulder.

"A small group, we dealt with them." Bremoline shrugged it off.

"Craban was incredible! He took on four orcs at once." Faergon stated.

"Four? Really? Your injury is healing well. You need not use the sling anymore, but just make certain that you use that arm gently."

"I will!" Faergon was happy to be free of the restriction. He had felt so useless in the fight.

Bremoline continued the tale of the fight. "I fought back-to-back with Craban. An orc tried to take his head."

"Is that how you came to be wounded?" Gailarphen asked him.

"Aye."

"But Craban was in..."

"Incredible, I know, you've said! Did you take a blow to your head?" There was teasing in Gailarphen's voice.

"No, why? Oh!" Faergon grinned sheepishly as he realized. "I sound like an elfling."

"Just a little, mellon-nin, but we forgive you!" Bremoline was laughing with him. "Go and rest, you have all earned a good rest."

"Hennad, Captain Bremoline." Faergon turned to Gailarphen. "Hannon le, Master Gailarphen, for your care."

"You are welcome. Make certain you eat!" He called after the Imladris archer.

"Eirien will see that they eat, I am certain of that." Bremoline knew the Shield Maiden all too well.

"Indeed, the first thing she tried to do when she arrived last night was make some stew for Thranduil. Come, I will take you to them."

As they walked through the outer healing chamber Bremoline caught sight of Calandor. He looked disgruntled and was looking around. One of the ellith was trying to persuade him to eat.

"Mae govannen, Calandor, it is good to see you awake." Bremoline was more pleased than he could say.

"Captain Bremoline! Mellon-nin, it is good to see you. You got here safely?"

"Yes, we had a little skirmish with some orcs, but nothing much. How are you?" Bremoline caught the pale countenance of the ellon in the bed. Calandor looked a lot better but far from the robust and energetic archer he knew so well.

"Better, or I would be if they would stop feeding me ghastly teas and let me see Doroniel." Calandor really was not happy.

"Where is Doroniel?" Bremoline had just realised that she was not in the chamber with them.

Gailarphen nodded toward the door to the inner chamber. "She is in the inner chamber with Thranduil. I wanted to keep a close eye on her. Although, from looking at... Ladeth!" He called for the other healer.

"Yes, Master Healer?" She hurried over. A junior healer, Tirith, was by her side.

"I would like to have Calandor moved into the inner ward. Can we make sure that he is placed beside Doroniel? They are to be bonded." He had suddenly realised that the others were not aware of this fact.

"They are? That is wonderful news! Why did you not tell us?" Ladeth turned to Calandor.

"I have been asking to see Dor. Why did you think I was asking?" His reply was grumpy.

Gailarphen sighed. It seemed that all his patients had awakened in a grumpy mood this morning. He had to admit, after his sleepless night, his mood was not much better.

"We will take you to her, but she will not be happy to see you like this, Are you in pain?" It seemed likely, as the burns to his hands and feet were still healing.

They all heard the resigned sigh. "Aye."

"I will get some tea for the pain." Ladeth did not give him a chance to answer.

"I was meaning to ask you, Gailarphen, what happened to your eye?" Bremoline laughed at the light blush that rushed up his friend's face.

"Legolas." It was not Gailarphen who answered. The voice came from behind them.

"Eirien!" He chided.

"Why are you so embarrassed by the fact that Legolas hit you during his seizure?"

Lathron, beside her, actually laughed aloud and he was soon joined by the others, even Calandor, although his laughter was short and very breathless which caused Gailarphen to frown.

"Legolas hit you too? Oh, that is too good. I am not the only one!" Lathron crowed.

"Did you manage to help Lathron with his... problem, Eirien?" There was a devilish glint to Gailarphen's eyes and Lathron stopped smiling and laughing right away, a blush rushed into his face as well.

"Yes, and he is feeling much better aren't you, dear? I looked at the wounds on his head as well. Nasty they were." Eirien tutted.

"Well, it was a warg that made them. They are not known for their cleanliness." Lathron muttered, unfortunately Eirien heard it all too well.

"Enough with the sarcasm Young Man, it is not becoming." It was clear to all of them that she was a mother.

The look on Lathron's face was so comical that it set them all laughing again. He drew himself up with dignity.

"I am neither young nor a man." He declared simply.

Bremoline clapped Lathron on the shoulder. "You are young to me, penneth. I am many years your elder." Eirien glowered at Bremoline, who was laughing again.

"We need to go through and see to Legolas and Thranduil, Calandor. We will see you again shortly." Gailarphen ushered the four of them towards the two guards that now stood watch on the door that led to the inner sanctum.

The guards nodded at Gailarphen. He stopped though and turned to Bremoline.

"Where is Ruthwen?" It had suddenly dawned on him that he had not seen the two ellith that were with his group. He really needed to get some sleep if he was missing such things.

"They are here, alas. There were points in our journey that I thought, nay hoped, that they would return to Mirkwood. Ruthwen demanded they be taken to their chamber, but I believe they found it themselves."

Gailarphen caught the undercurrent of amusement in the Captain's voice. "They are still up to their tricks, I take it?"

"Oh yes. They have not changed."

"Who are 'they'?" Eirien had never heard either elf ever speak about someone like this.

"They are two ellith who accompanied Thranduil from Mirkwood. One was intended to be Legolas' tutor, the other is her escort." The dislike in Bremoline's voice was clear. "You will understand, when you meet them." Gailarphen and Bremoline nodded to the guards and the Master Healer pushed the chamber doors open.

The sight before them was not what any of them expected. The previously calm and quiet chamber was in a mild panic, the noise level enough to make them wince.

Gailarphen hurried past the stunned friends into the chamber and to Thranduil's side.

Thranduil still lay quiet in a drugged sleep but Legolas was awake and in quite a state of distress. He was crying, sobbing inconsolably. Talagan was trying to get him to talk to him. Fileg was peeping with distress and trying to nudge Legolas with his head. Thoronneth was trying to calm down the small Prince as well.

"Legolas, Penneth, what is wrong?" Gailarphen sat on the side of the bed and gently shifted Legolas onto his back. He was surprised to feel that the elfling was cool. It was a relief.

"Sore." He could barely understand him among the sobs.

"Where are you sore?" He had a good idea, but he needed to ask.

"Everywhere." There was a very short pause before he called out. "Nana!"

Fresh tears fell and Legolas sniffled before raising his left hand to rub at his eyes. "Ow."

"I am sure that hurts as well. I am sorry your Nana cannot be here, will I do?" Gailarphen did not want Legolas to rub his eyes or his forehead again.

"Ada." The cry was pitiful.

"Your Ada is sleeping, Legolas. He needs to sleep." He carefully hugged the elfling to him.

"Ada." The little lip quivered and Eirien could stay still no longer. She moved quickly to sit by their side.

"Your Ada is here, Legolas, but he's sleeping. See? You can touch him." Wide eyes turned to her and she found herself lost in those incredible blue eyes.

"You?" A shuddering breath shook him as more sobs threatened.

"I am Eirien. I was a friend of your Nana. Would you like a cuddle?" She held out her arms in invitation.

Legolas held out his good arm to her and his lip quivered.

"Come here, sweetling." Gailarphen helped to lift him across to her and they gently sat him on her lap.

Legolas snuggled into her lap, still sniffling. "Hurts."

"I know, sweetling. I think they are going to make you some medicine that will help that."

"'Phen some?"

"What was that, sweety?" Eirien had not understood a word that Legolas had just said.

"I think Legolas was asking if I was going to have some medicine as well, as we agreed earlier, did we not, Penneth?" Gailarphen was pleased that Legolas was slightly calmer though his chest still hitched with shuddering inhalations as the crying threatened to return.

"He did? Gailarphen told you he would have the tea with you? Well, I will have to make certain that he does just that and does not cheat." She wagged her finger at Gailarphen.

Legolas giggled, but said 'ow' again, as it hurt too.

"Easy, little one. What is this little fellow's name?" Fileg peeped and had moved to the edge of the bed, trying to get to Legolas.

"Fileg." Gailarphen lifted Fileg and carried him to Legolas and set him gently on Legolas' lap.

"Fileg injured his wing, just like Legolas, and we are going to help him get better, are we not, Penneth?" Gailarphen gently stroked the cool bruised forehead. He thanked Estë that the fever was gone.

"Yes. Fileg." Legolas stroked the little head and the duckling peeped happily back at him.

"For the Caun." Talagan handed Gailarphen the medicinal tea.

"I will need some." Gailarphen stated.

"Master?" Talagan looked shocked. Was the Master Healer injured?

"I promised Legolas that I would have some tea as well. I keep my promises." He arched his eyebrow at the young healer before him.

"I understand, Master. I will get you some tea." Talagan smiled as he walked away.

"Will you drink it while I wait for mine, Penneth?" Gailarphen carefully watched Legolas' eyes. He could not rid himself of the feeling that something further was wrong with Legolas.

"Yes." Eirien took the goblet and coaxed Legolas to drink the poppy tea.

"Arm?" Legolas asked between sips, sounding very puzzled as he looked at the splint on his right arm.

"You hurt it when you were asleep. It will mend quickly. See, it is the same one as Fileg? You can both heal together, a step at a time." Gailarphen smiled at the two of them.

"Hurts?" Legolas turned to Fileg and Eirien paused to watch. She wanted to see what the others had been talking about, regarding Legolas and the animals.

"You help?" The blue eyes turned back to Gailarphen.

"Yes, I helped him while you slept." Gailarphen reassured him.

Legolas tipped his head, curiously looking at Gailarphen. "Eye?" His sharp little eyes did not miss the bruising around his eye.

"This? It is nothing. I bumped my eye." He would not have Legolas feeling guilty over something he could not help.

"Hurt?" The little lip quivered again at the thought of his friend being hurt.

"No, Legolas it does not hurt. I am well. Drink the rest of your tea." Gailarphen gently ruffled the silky blond hair. This little Prince really was so dear. He could understand why the Mirkwood elves adored him as they did.

"Glad." Legolas took more of the tea.

"Here is your tea, Master Gailarphen. It will help your eye." Talagan had overheard their conversation.

"Hennad, Talagan." He was aware that Legolas was watching him closely as he accepted the goblet. With an exaggerated sigh, he took a sip.

"GAGH! What the Valar is that muck!" Legolas giggled at Gailarphen's antics as the healer looked in disgust at the tea.

"Your tea, Master Gailarphen, to help your eye. I also added something to help counter fatigue." Talagan sounded smug.

"You did not...?" It was a growl. There had better not be any sleeping herbs in there.

"Nay, just something to help, I would not do that to you, Master. I thought Caun Legolas might find it more convincing if..." He nodded towards Legolas who was happily sipping his tea. He was glad his was not as yucky as Gailarphen's.

"Good thinking. You could have warned me, though." Gailarphen grumbled as he finished the tea, knowing it contained nothing more than harmless, if bitter, herbs.

"And ruin the surprise?" There was a hint of teasing in the other healer's eyes.

"Nasty?" There was undisguised glee in Legolas' voice.

"Yes, Legolas, very nasty. I think that Talagan should try some of his own medicine too. What do you think?"

"Yes." Bright eyes turned to Talagan and Gailarphen raised his eyebrow in query.

What could Talagan do? He could hardly say no when Gailarphen had done the same thing. "It is only fair." He admitted a trifle reluctantly.

"Good, I will make your tea." There was a wicked grin on Gailarphen's face as he stood. Talagan gulped. Perhaps having a bit of fun at the Master Healer's expense was not the wisest of his ideas.

"Fileg?" Legolas asked the duckling. It peeped in reply.

Legolas seemed happy at the reply. He looked above him. "Thor'neth?"

"Yes, Legolas?" The Eagle was pleased that the small elfling had calmed.

"Alwight?" He had heard his friend upset and that was the last thing he wanted.

"I am well, Young One, I was worried about you. Do you feel better?" Thoronneth was watching Legolas closely. He knew what the Song said about this one and was worried. However, he would say nothing while Legolas was awake and able to hear them speak.

"Tired." Legolas tried to hide a yawn, but failed. With one splinted hand and the other barely functioning enough to stroke Fileg, what could he do?

"Sleep then, I will watch over you." Thoronneth promised him.

"Pwomith?" Legolas did not even realise that he has slurred the word 'promise'.

"I promise."

"Ehr?" He turned his head towards Eirien.

"Yes, little one?" Eirien forced herself to smile despite her worry.

"Kay?" He snuggled his head against her chest, it was obvious to them all that he was not going anywhere soon. The poppy tea was acting quickly.

"I am good. Are you warm enough?" Eirien asked him. He only nodded slightly as a response.

"Tea, Phen? And I did not think you meant it." Bremoline's voice sounded very amused as Gailarphen returned with a goblet in hand.

"I meant every word of it. I expect Talagan to do the same, here is your tea." He handed him the goblet.

Talagan took it warily and turned to show it to Legolas, only to find him already asleep, with his eyes closed.

He drank the tea, regardless. He was, after all, an elf of his word...

Only to almost spit the foul fluid out of his mouth, but somehow he managed to swallow it with some semblance of dignity. He looked up to see Gailarphen smirking at him. He really should have been aware that he would not get away with doing that to Gailarphen. No one ever did. The older ellon could be craftier than Elrond's son's when he wanted to be.

"I will get Legolas comfortable." Gailarphen wanted to examine Legolas and Eirien did not look comfortable with him and Fileg on her lap.

"Nay, he is fine. It has been a while since I held a young one in my arms. Let me enjoy the novelty?" Eirien smiled at him.

"You are comfortable if I look him over?" He really wanted to make certain if his fears were grounded.

"Yes." She looked from Legolas to Gailarphen with concern shining in her eyes. "He was slurring his words. That is not normal." Eirien frowned worriedly at Legolas in her arms.

"And only speaking single words as well, which he was not before. He normally speaks quite well for one of his age." Gailarphen lifted a limp eyelid.

"What do you think it is?" Eirien worried at her lip.

"I will tell you when I know exactly. All I do know is that something is wrong." Gailarphen spoke softly.

"The wind grows more worried and it tried to tell the trees, but the trees were making too much noise to hear." Thoronhen spoke from his perch.

"What are they trying to say?" Gailarphen was worried about just how sluggish the pupil response was.

"Legolas is weakening. He is very unwell. There is something wrong with his head. It hurts him more than it should..."

"He has a fractured skull." Gailarphen murmured reflectively.

"From the fall?" Eirien recalled what she had been told.

"Aye." He gently let the eyelid fall and moved to the other one. He lifted it just as gently, the eye was barely reacting. This made sense. Gailarphen had a sudden, awful realization as to what was happening here.

"Phen?" Only Eirien would get away with calling him by his hated pet name. Aside from the elfling he was looking at.

"I believe Legolas has a more severe head injury than I believed." Eirien gasped and watched as he gently began to feel Legolas' head. The swelling from earlier had not gone down.

"How is he?" She sounded frightened.

"Not good. We have been working on the assumption that the seizures Legolas has been suffering were because of his fever and infection." Gailarphen rocked back on his feet, his face tense. "But what if it is from this underlying head injury? What if there is pressure building in his skull?"

"What can you do?" Eirien asked, her voice and demeanor were filled with determination.

"For now, we watch him closely. There is nothing we can do until he wakens and I can assess him fully. Thoronneth?" He called to the Great Eagle suddenly.

"Yes, Gailarphen?"

"I need to be informed the moment that the Song changes, no matter what. We could lose Legolas if I am not informed." His voice was grave.

"I will inform my kin so that we are all aware." Thoronneth promised him. He withdrew his head from the window and turned then called out in his own language. An answering squawk told them he had been heard.

"Hennad. Are you alright with Legolas, Eirien? I need to go and look in on Elladan and Elrohir. Elrond has indicated that he will take no herbs until I bring them to see him. It is also time for the morning meal. You must be hungry."

"A little, we did not stop to eat much and you gave me the tea before I could eat last night." There was a gleam in her eyes.

"You needed the sleep and I knew you would not rest without help." Gailarphen smiled back at her, not sorry in the least. However his smile faded as he looked at Legolas again. "It worries me that Legolas' bones are breaking so easily. That is twice that he has broken a bone by kicking or hitting out. That is not right. Bones are stronger than that." Gailarphen was fretting and he was aware of that, but the small Prince had come to mean a lot to him.

"That is not good, what could cause that?" Eirien hugged the little form gently to her.

"I do not know. I will have to speak with Elrond. I just hope his throat has recovered enough to be able to speak." Gailarphen really was not sure what was going on here.

"Good thinking. I will stay to watch him. Go now, see to the Twins. If I need you I am sure someone will fetch you." Eirien was not going to leave the small elfling. It would

take a horde of orcs and then some to get her away from Legolas' side, at least until Thranduil woke and could take over the care of the elfling.

"Very well. They should be bringing Calandor through any minute. Doroniel will be happier with that as well." Gailarphen told her, seriously.

"I love a good wedding. My own daughter is getting married later in the year. I cannot wait." Eirien told him happily, gently rocking Legolas.

"That is nice to hear. You will have to tell me the details later when things have calmed down." Gailarphen stated.

"I would gladly share the good news with you. Now go and see to Elrond before he takes matters into his own hands!" She nodded towards Elrond's bed and Gailarphen could see what she meant. Elrond looked ready to climb out of the bed to search for his sons, even without his sight.

"I will speak with you later." Gailarphen stood and moved quickly to Elrond's side. "Things have calmed, mellon-nin. I am going to see to your sons now."

"Really? You will do it this time?" There was such worry and hope in Elrond's croaky voice that Gailarphen could not tell him off for speaking. He had actually expected it before now.

"Yes, really, and nothing will stop me. I will return with them very soon." Gailarphen patted his hand and stood. Behind him they brought Calandor into the chamber and he could hear their relieved greetings to each other, even if they were both incredibly breathless. He would have to look at them both later, once he had seen to Tarias. His day was going to be a very long one.

Eirien hummed softly to Legolas as she sat there thinking about his mother and how like his parents the elfling was. She watched with bright eyes as Calandor and Doroniel talked, holding hands and looking as if they were made to be with each other. Their love was bright and strong even to her.

She was also looking forward to seeing Elladan and Elrohir again. Elrond could be proud of his sons. They had grown to be very fine and capable young elves.

When the food came, Eirien accepted the fruit and porridge gratefully. She had just finished the last bite of dried apple when Thoronneth spoke from above them.

"Talagan, there is a message bird for Hir Elrond. I would have let Gandalf know but he sleeps." Mithrandir had fallen asleep in the chair at Thranduil's other side, his exhaustion finally catching up with him again.

"Is it here?" The healer asked.

"Yes, HE is here. He will come in." A large raven fluttered in through the window and landed on Elrond's bed. He held out his leg and waited patiently for someone to come and take the message.

"That is one of our birds!" Eirien said and worry filled her. She had been hoping for news from her home, but now that it was here...

Talagan hurried to the bird and removed the message. It squawked at him and fluttered back up to sit on the window ledge next to Thoronneth and began to preen himself.

"Hir Elrond, do you want me to read you the message?" Talagan stood beside his Lord.

Elrond nodded. Just the few words he had spoken earlier had hurt his throat and he realised that he had badly bruised his throat and possibly damaged his voice box.

He waited patiently for Talagon to open the missive.

/Dear Rondy/

Elrond winced at that. Talagan barely paused, though he did glance at Lord Elrond with a hint of amusement.

/I hope this message finds you well and in good spirits. This is just to warn you that Bree was attacked by a large group of orcs two nights ago. Celeborn and Ivorhen were both injured, but are healing well. They will be leaving here to ride to Imladris within the next two days, if Gytha ever permits them to leave their beds./

Eirien laughed softly at that, she could just imagine that her friend would be in her element with this. She was very worried about this attack, pleased that Caric was alright, but she also noted that he had not mentioned…

/ Wolraven has been fighting beside the Guard and seems to be back in his element, much like his old self. He did have one seizure, but that was well after the fighting had finished. He is now working with the Bree Home Guard in re-building the town's defences. Briena fought well and took down many orcs. Eirien will be, and should be, proud of her./

Eirien nodded her agreement at that and beamed proudly. All the healers and helpers had stopped and were listening to Talagan as he read the message. No one had noticed that Glorfindel had woken and was sitting up. Mithrandir had also woken and was listening as well, chewing on his beard as he did so.

/Briena and many of our women defended the children marvelously. We had some losses though and some of the halflings from surrounding farms were seriously injured. Brennus lost his left arm defending them. The Mayor was also killed, but his body was found outside the town. It would seem that he was a traitor and sold us out to the orcs. He has had his justice. He had a secret door fitted along the town wall. It has been sealed now. We need a new Mayor. Well, we have an acting Mayor, who was sworn in, despite his reluctance./

"A new Mayor? I wonder who they chose? Irfan will not be happy with this news." Eirien pondered. The news that Cadeyrn no longer lived to ruin the town, as he had been doing, was actually a relief.

/If Eirien is there please let her know that when she returns to Bree she will have new duties as the Lord Mayor's Lady of Bree.../

Talagan trailed off looking at Eirien as if he had never seen her before.

"Lady? Me? No, he is joking..." Eirien looked so shocked and white that Talagan worried she was going to faint.

/If she says it cannot be, I assure her it is so. The vote was overwhelming, apparently, much to my amazement. My reaction was much the same. Cadeyrn has left behind a huge mess and it will take much to correct his actions. None of us can believe just how corrupt he actually was. Much is yet to be uncovered, I fear./

Eirien snorted. She could easily imagine that, if Irfan was to be a solitary sign.

/I do have some ill news for Eirien that will not be welcome. Athlon was badly injured during the fighting and has yet to regain consciousness. Gytha tells me his condition is grave./

"No, Valar, no!" Eirien had tears in her eyes and Mithrandir rose and moved around to her side to comfort her.

/I live in hope, having been told the same about Wolraven a few years ago. Briena will not leave Athlon's side, naturally. She is grief-stricken, poor darling./

Eirien sniffed. Tears ran down her face. She loved Athlon already and had been planning their wedding all the way to Imladris and now... now it could be over before she ever had a chance to show them both how happy she really was. The hope for a possible babe, a grandchild to spoil, had brought new hope to a tired and run-down life under Cadeyrn's leadership.

/I tell our daughter to keep hope and point out that Wolraven has recovered from similar injuries. It seems to have been of some help./

/We moved the injured today and now they reside in the town's great hall. The infirmary was in no state to take them. Gytha talked about torching the building and starting anew. I have to admit that it was my very first order. The place was disgusting and overrun by vermin. Gytha said that if she ever, EVER, sets eyes upon Irfan again he will not live to tell the tale. I believe every word she says. I would be second in the line immediately behind her. How he called himself a healer, I do not know./

Eirien growled at this and vowed that, as soon as Thranduil woke, Irfan would be getting a visit from her, a visit he would never forget.

"Stop growling, Eirien. It is not seemly for the wife of the Mayor of Bree!" Glorfindel called from his bed.

"A very angry wife of the Mayor of Bree! To think that we actually saved that scum from the orcs! If I had known…" She sighed and then admitted as she shook her head. "I would still have saved him. What the orcs had planned for him... I would not wish that upon anyone."

"You are a good woman, mellon-nin. He will realise what you have done for him." Glorfindel assured her.

She snorted. "With the way he treated Gailarphen and Erestor when we got here? He will never realise what his foolishness has done." She turned to Talagan. "Please continue. I wish to hear more of my home."

Talagan nodded. /During all this, a delegation from Fornost arrived. They too had encountered orcs and had incurred injuries. To say we were shocked to see them was an understatement! They apparently were not happy with Celeborn's departure and decided to follow him to prove their point. They will be leaving with Celeborn to continue to Rivendell with him./

Glorfindel growled this time, his frustration with the humans growing by the minute. "I would bet that was instigated by Lord Banwen's son, Amaruvdor. He seems that type of person."

Elrond nodded with a frown on his brow as he listened. Glorfindel was right.

/I think that is all the news for now. I will write as soon as I have any more news.

Please let me know if Eirien and the boys arrived safely.

With regards, Caric of Bree.

Written by Eregdos of Lothlorien/

Talagan nodded. "No wonder it was easy for me to read." They all knew of Eregdos' skills as a writer and encouraged him when they could. His poems were eagerly sought after all over the three Elven Realms.

"We will have to warn Erestor that we will be having even more visitors. At least

Celeborn's chamber will be free..." Glorfindel commented to the chamber in general.

"It is troubling that orcs have grown this confident, this bold. Yes, they had help from Cadeyrn, but to attack in such number... I need to think on this." Mithrandir hummed reflectively and settled back into his chair.

"Ada!" The door to the chamber flew open and two identical elves quickly strode into the chamber, a look of barely-controlled panic on their faces. They skidded to a halt and looked down at Elrond.

Elrohir looked much better to Eirien's sharp eyes. His colour was normal and he looked to be more like the elfling that she knew. Elladan, however, was still pale and his arm was now in a sling. He did look better. At least he was awake and able to walk on his own.

"Ada!" Elrohir cried once more before tentatively reaching out to touch Elrond's hand. "I know you cannot talk, Ada. Gailarphen has told us all. We were anxious to see you. We have been so worried. I had a vision of you with your eyes bound." Elrohir shuddered at the memory.

Elrond turned his head to Elrohir in surprise. A vision? Why had no one told him that his son was having visions?

Elladan clasped Elrond's hand. "I am well, Ada. I was given the antidote for the poison. I am sorry I worried you, but I wanted to get Ro back here. Arwen has already told me off quite well about it. We had to come to you. We could not stay with DaerNana and DaerAdar. I hope you are not too cross with us?" He asked tentatively.

Glorfindel spoke sternly. "We are not angry with you. You need not worry about us. We were informed of your leaving long after the fact, but your DaerAdar followed you and he has been injured in the process." Yes, it had worked out that Celeborn had been needed in Bree, but to have to make that journey to start with...

"What? How?" Elrohir looked terrified and guilty.

"He followed you. When they got to Bree, orcs attacked the town."

"The fire." Elladan's voice was low.

"We have not heard about any fire, but I would expect that to be the case."

"Is DaerAdar badly hurt?" Elrohir would not meet Glorfindel's eyes.

Glorfindel sighed. He had wanted to make them realise how thoughtless they had been, not make them feel this bad. "He is recovering. That is all we have been informed. Captain Ivorhen was also injured."

"No!" Elrohir looked as if he was going to cry. They both liked and respected Captain Ivorhen. He had helped them out of a few scrapes.

"What are you doing to my patients?" Gailarphen was not at all amused as he returned to the inner chamber.

"You did not tell us that DaerAdar was hurt!" Elladan turned accusing eyes to the healer.

"He is? How, what happened?" Gailarphen was as shocked as the twins.

"Bree was attacked by orcs." Elrohir still sounded miserable and Elrond gently gripped his shoulder.

Elladan looked around the healing chamber, surprised and saddened at the number here. He finally noticed who Eirien was holding in her lap.

"Is that Legolas?" He sounded horrified.

"Yes, it is, he has been badly hurt and very ill..."

"Hurt and ill? He looks half dead!" Elladan was aghast as he crossed to Eirien's side. He looked down at his young friend. "Will he be alright?"

Gailarphen assured them. "Eventually, yes, but it will take time. How are you feeling, Elrond? Any better?"

He was just as worried about his friend as the Mirkwood Prince. Elrohir had not left Elrond's side and held his Adar's hand as if he would never let him go. He had not taken his gaze away from Elrond.

Elrond just nodded carefully. Gailarphen nodded. "Good. Your Adar will get better, Elrohir, he has improved much from what he was."

"He has?" Elrohir's voice was soft and full of worry.

"Yes he has. I want all of you, yes even you Elrond, to eat and then I will look at your eyes."

"Ada, what happened to your eyes?" Elrohir reached to almost touch the bandage over Elrond's eyes.

"This is just temporary, Elrohir, just a precaution. Now eat!" Gailarphen left them, smiling when Elladan went back to his Adar's side after placing a gentle kiss on Legolas' silken head.

---

A low hum that seemed to fill the barn was the first thing that Ivorhen became aware of. The second was his thumping headache. He reached up to touch his head.

"My Elf?" It was a soft voice.

He opened his eyes, only to blink, startled. Hazel-green eyes looked back at him from literally right before his eyes. Her nose almost touched his.

"Tiera?" She nodded at him happily. "Are you alright, Penneth?" At some point, someone had taken the time to wash her. She now had a clean face.

"Yes. Are you alwight?" She wrinkled her button nose, making him smile.

"I am well." To his surprise, he found that he was. The double vision and dizziness were gone. The sleep and his elven healing had done wonders.

"Awake are you?" Gytha stood beside him.

"Yes, hennad. I feel better." He explained as he sat up.

"I will be the one to decide that. Come and sit still." She helped him to sit on the edge of the bed. No sooner had he settled than Tiera climbed to sit on his lap. She happily sucked her thumb.

Gytha removed the bandage around his head. "Celeborn is still asleep. He woke earlier and was also better. Your guards are helping to set the town to rights. They are amazing workers. They already have temporary gates up. Wolraven is awake and out working with them too, much to Caric's dismay!"

"That is good news. Is there any news of this little one's family?" The thought that Tiera's mother may have passed still saddened him.

"Look over there." Gytha smiled and gestured to a bed not far from where they were. Ivorhen looked over to where she pointed. There on a bed was a woman with curly dark hair, if her hair had been longer it would have been in ringlets just like her daughter. She had a bandage around her head and another around her arm. Lying curled asleep next to her, content, was Erwan.

"When did you find her?" Ivorhen's grey eyes shined with relief.

"Last night, Thunor and Riencar found her and brought her here. She was injured while protecting some of the children who had not made it safely here. She is a bit of a heroine now, took down twenty orcs. They were lying dead at her feet when we found her. One had dared to touch a little girl." She smiled at his angry grunt. The smile widened. "It was the biggest mistake he ever made. From what I hear, there was not a lot left of him."

"Good, he deserved all he got." Ivorhen's voice was cold.

"Monsters gone?" Tiera sounded frightened and she spoke around her thumb.

"Yes, Penneth, they have all gone. I would never, ever let them harm you. I promise you that with every part of my being." Ivorhen did not hesitate to make that promise. He also meant every word that he said.

"Good. Happy." Tiera snuggled into him, happy to just be sitting with her wonderfully awake elf. Especially now that her Ma was here too.

Ivorhen could not resist it. He bent and kissed her little nose. Causing her to giggle and squirm.

"Enough playing about, Ivorhen, I need to see to your head." Gytha tried to sound gruff, but she failed miserably. It was heartening to see these two together.

"Sorry." Ivorhen sat still so that she could finish removing the bandage.

Gytha smiled even more. The wound on his forehead, once it was revealed, had almost healed. She could only shake her head in wonder. No matter how often she saw the speed of elven healing, it still amazed her.

"How many fingers am I holding up?" She held up two digits.

"Two." He replied quickly.

"Good, you don't feel sick or dizzy?" Gytha was pleased with his reply.

"Not at all." He cuddled Tiera to him.

"Very well. You are able to get up and move around, but only gentle movements and nothing strenuous. If you feel giddy or sick get straight back to bed and call me. I will be here. I am not leaving." Gytha sounded amused. Then she turned stern once more. "But only when you have both eaten! We have some porridge ready for you. Tiera would not eat without you."

"She would not? Tiera, you have to eat. Come, we will eat together." Tiera would not move from his lap. In the end, Gytha brought them the bowls of food.

They both had their bowls scraped clean very quickly.

"Ma!" Tiera pointed to her mother, who had not yet moved. "Da." She pointed to a man who was talking with Caric at the door. It lifted his heart to know that all her family had lived through the siege.

"Would you like to go and see him?" He brushed her hair away.

"Stay!" She clung to him like a limpet.

"As you wish, but I do need to go and see that my friend is alright." He stood carefully so that she did not fall. With her resting on his hip, he walked to Celeborn's side.

He was pleased to note that Celeborn was sleeping with his eyes open.

"He is doing much better." Caric stood beside him.

"He looks it." Ivorhen smiled at his human friend who clapped him on the shoulder.

"As do you, old friend!" Caric laughed in relief. "To see you both lying there so still…" Caric shook his head. "I must say it scared me to see you thus."

"I am well. I have been given permission to rise and walk with this Penneth." He grinned down at the child in his arms.

"Ah, yes your shadow. Her Da is most aggrieved that someone has taken his place." Caric poked his tongue out at the child, who giggled. She stuck her tongue out in reply.

"I did not mean..." Ivorhen looked worried.

Caric stopped him. "Nay, do not go on, it is not necessary. He understands and wants to thank you for saving this little one's life. She is most precious to us."

"I am glad to have been of assistance." Ivorhen bowed his head to Tiera's father who now hovered over his wife and son. He nodded back. Ivorhen then turned to Caric. "How are you, mellon-nin?"

"I am well. I have..." Caric blushed and looked away.

"What is it, mellon-iaur?" Ivorhen was suddenly worried.

"They have asked me to be Mayor! Me! Can you believe it?" He shook his head, still amazed.

"That is wonderful news, Caric! I believe you will be a good choice for the position!" Ivorhen did not feel they could have a better Mayor.

"But, what if I do something wrong?" Caric was worried.

"Humph, as if Eirien would let you!" Gytha muttered as she passed them.

"I doubt you could do that. Look at the last Mayor and what he achieved." There was disgust in Ivorhen's voice at the thought of Cadeyrn and his inept job as Mayor of Bree.

"But if I mess up and things worsen..." There was real worry in Caric's voice.

Ivorhen chuckled and shook his head slowly. "Caric, stop and look around you. Take a good long look and tell me what you see."

Caric blinked at him in surprise and then did just that. He turned and looked around them.

The barn was full of the injured, sick and young, yet people moved with a sense of purpose. He could hear the sounds of hammering and calling from outside mingled with laughter and teasing.

It was then that Caric realised something. There was a feeling of... almost lightness in the air, of hope. He had not seen it for such a long time it took his breath away. With the harsh winter just past and facing a famine due to the conditions, couple that with Cadeyrn's 'rules' and the town had taken on the air of being besieged. That had gone, almost overnight. It was as if the orc attack had freed them from their own worries and united them as one.

"Hope. I can feel hope and peace." There was wonder in his voice.

"Aye, mellon-nin, and do you know why that is?" There was mischief in Ivorhen's eyes.

Caric did not get a chance to answer.

"Da!" It was Wolraven. Once more Caric found himself marveling at the change that had come over his son. Could this man before him be the same person as the one at his side yesterday? There was a light in his eyes that had been missing for so long and lightness of step. It made Caric's heart glad.

"Wolraven, son, you are alright?" There was wonder in his voice.

"Aye, Da. Jowan is having the smithy sorted out. He wanted me to let you know that the new gates will be made to the specifications that you really wanted the last time. No orcs will get through the gates this time!" There was a grim determination in his voice.

"He had better be resting that thick head of his!" Gytha hurried back past them, a bowl of steaming water in her hands. "I will not mop up after him if he is ill." Her voice was gruff but they both knew that if Jowan needed her, she would drop everything and rush to his side.

"He is, Gytha. I made certain the others knew that he was not to move or work, only tell us where he wanted things." Wolraven had to laugh at the big, gruff, kindly smith. He did not appreciate being coddled.

"Good. You rest too! I do not have the room to look after more patients!" Gytha grumbled.

Caric blinked at the comment and looked around. He quickly came to a decision. He looked at the birthing woman. She was about to get a shock.

"Gytha!" He gestured for her to come over, his voice serious. For once she came without even grumbling. The twinkle in her eye made him a little uneasy.

"You called, Lord Mayor?" The scowl Caric gave her was all she could have asked for.

"Don't call me that!" He growled.

"Lord Mayor? But it is only right and proper, Cadeyrn… "

"Cadeyrn was a fool and a bloody idiot. I am Caric, I will always be Caric and that will never change!" He told her sternly.

"Good, that is as it should be." She smiled, satisfied.

"Good. It seems to me Gytha that we are in need of a healer." Caric was going to enjoy this.

Gytha crossed her arms. "Aye, and this time you had better get someone who is truly qualified and knows their trade!" She would never forgive Irfan for the damage he had inflicted on the people of Bree.

"Oh, I think I can do better than that!" Caric was openly smiling and it changed his face completely.

Ivorhen had a sudden inkling of what the new Mayor was about to do.

"Tell me, Gytha, you have worked extensively with Elrond in the past?" Caric sounded thoughtful.

Gytha frowned at him before answering. "Yes, and well you know it. I have treated many a battle casualty and you in particular. Why?" There was something going on here. She was also not sure that she wanted to know what this was about.

"So you have extensive field training?"

"Aye, but that was..."

"Under the best healer that has ever lived in Middle-earth?" Caric was enjoying this.

"Aye, but I am only a..."

"Bree is in need of a healer and I think that you would be the best person to fill that need. The people here trust you with their lives, as do I."

"Caric, talk sense here. I have no formal healer training, it is one thing helping another woman to give birth, but I have never in my life wished to take that..."

"I am sure that Elrond would help you to finish any training you need. Having seen you work these last few days, I don't think there is much that you need to finish with the training."

Caric turned to the occupants of the barn. "I want to take an unofficial, temporary vote. All those in favour of Gytha becoming our Official Town Healer, say 'Aye'!"

The response was almost deafening as they practically took the roof off of the barn with their combined voices calling "Aye".

Caric turned to her with a triumphant grin. "I think the decision has been made for you."

She was openly glaring at him but they could tell she was pleased as well.

"I accept, but only on the condition that Elrond sees to my training. I will get you back for this, Caric. You mark my words!"

"I know, and I look forward to it." Caric was happy. The town now had a healer that they could all trust.

"Well, you can start with this, My Lord Mayor. I want at least twenty assistants that I feel can be trusted to look after the patients. They will be paid, have clothing provided. I also want them trained. I will look after my patients my way and without hindrance from you or the council. Do you understand?" She had her hands on her hips as she spoke.

Ivorhen sneaked a glance at Caric. They were both grinning.

Caric beamed. There was no other word for it. "Good, it is as it should be and exactly how I want it. You are the one who will make the decisions, but only after I have made this one."

Gytha frowned and looked at him. What was this now?

"The injured and children are to be moved. I will not have them here in this weather.

This barn is not fit for habitation. We have a perfectly good Town Hall that is undamaged and will be perfect for this. Wolraven!" Caric called once more.

"Yes, Da?" Wolraven appeared suddenly at Caric's side.

"Go to the Town Hall, break down the door if necessary, unless someone knows where the key can be found, take men with you and clear it. Prepare it for use as an infirmary. There should be plenty of beds or mattresses that we can use. I am sure each house that is undamaged will help provide them. Be sure to get our extra as well. Have the fires set so that it is warm. I will not have my people in this drafty old barn when there is an empty warm hall. See to it for me?" He turned bright eyes to his son.

"I will do this, Father. It will be my pleasure." Pride glowed from his eyes that had too often been dark and hopeless in the past. He turned and walked away with a determined stride.

"And you were worried about not being capable? I think you will be the best man for this job, mellon-nin." Ivorhen gently lifted Tiera so that she was more safely settled. "What can I do to help?"

"You? Sit!" Gytha wagged her finger at him. "I told you no strenuous activity, or must I drug you?" Her eyebrow rose in perfect imitation of Elrond.

A choked laugh from beside them warned them that Celeborn was awake once more.

"Celeborn, how do you feel?" Ivorhen turned to his friend.

"Better, thank you, mellon-nin. How do you fare? Did I hear correctly, Caric is Mayor?" Celeborn tried to push himself upright. Gytha was there immediately to aid him.

"Take it easy. You do not wish to disturb that dressing. I had to re-suture the wound, silly elfling." Gytha grumbled as she plumped up the pillows behind him. "You will not move from that bed without my permission. You will eat, and then you will drink the tea that I give you, without complaint, unless you wish me to speak with that darling wife of yours?" The latter was said so sweetly that it did not immediately register with Celeborn that he had been subtly threatened.

"I will behave." There was a small smile on his face. If he were honest, his leg was still painful, even without moving it. He would have to do as he was told, this time. He had obviously done a lot of damage.

"Good. Tiera, can I trust you to look after these two for me? I will only trust you for this job." Gytha had chucked the little girl on her chin as she spoke. Tiera laughed at her and nodded, not even taking her thumb out of her mouth. "Good girl. I will get Celeborn some porridge and some tea." Her sharp eyes had caught his wince as he had moved.

---

By early afternoon the move was made from the barn to the Town Hall situated near the town gates. Much to Celeborn's disgust, Gytha made them carry him on a litter. Gildor insisted on helping to carry him. Celeborn would not have minded so much, but did it have to be in front of the entire town?

"It is not that bad, mellon-nin." Ivorhen told him as he walked beside the litter, carrying Tiera on his hip.

"Not so bad? Who for? You are on your own two feet!" Celeborn knew he was being unfair, but for Valar's sake, he was sore. The tea had not helped at all.

"Not for long by the colour of his face!" Where had Gytha just come from? She had been tending some of the other injured who needed moved by litter just a moment ago.

Celeborn took another look at Ivorhen and felt doubly guilty. He did look pale again and he had a deep frown that marred his forehead.

"Ivorhen? Are you alright?" He could not hide the worry in his voice.

"Yes, I am fine." His voice seemed faint to Celeborn.

"You do not look it." Celeborn would not be put off.

"Let me take Tiera." A dark-haired man suddenly appeared at Ivorhen's side.

"No! Elf! My Elf!" She turned away from her father, wrapping her arms stubbornly around Ivorhen's neck. Ivorhen shrugged apologetically to the girl's father, who only smiled back at him.

"It is alright, Hallam. I will stay with Ivorhen and Tiera. We are almost there." Gytha knew that Ivorhen had overdone it already today. She would make some sleep tea for him. He could not say that he had not been warned.

"Ivorhen? What is it?" He really was looking peaky.

"Just a headache. I am fine." Ivorhen tried to deflect attention from him.

"It looks like more than a minor headache." They were soon under cover at the Town Hall near the gates. Gytha noted gladly that it was certainly warmer in here than it had been in the barn, even with the braziers that had been set up there.

"Maybe." Ivorhen admitted quietly.

Gytha grabbed Ivorhen's arm and led him to a free mattress. She made certain that he and Celeborn were placed close to a window so that they could see the sky. Gildor then saluted and left to join his men.

"Sit and I will look at you."

"I am well, there are others…" Ivorhen tried to brush Gytha away.

"That will not work!" She growled at him.

Tiera patted Ivorhen's cheek gently. "My Elf sick?" If there was one thing that could have caught and kept his attention it was that frightened little voice.

"I am well, Tiera." He hurried to reassure her.

"Blood." She was looking at his forehead and he closed his eyes.

"She is right, Ivorhen. You are bleeding again. Sit." Gytha pushed them down onto the mattress.

"It will be well, Tiera. How are you?" He tried to distract her as Gytha removed the bandage.

"Tiwed." She rubbed her eyes with a tiny fist.

"Sleep with me then." He cuddled her to him.

His only reply was a wide yawn against his shoulder.

"You have overdone it, my friend." Caric limped in after them, aided by Wolraven. "This is much better. Well done, Wolraven."

"Thanks, Da. I will make certain that Athlon is alright." He was as worried for his sister as for his friend.

"Please, make certain Briena rests." He watched as Wolraven hurried across the room. He turned to Celeborn, an apologetic look on his face. "I am using your men, is that alright, Cel?"

"More than alright, Caric. Mirien, in particular, is good with children and he adores hobbits." Celeborn had noticed that there were many halflings in the town helping with the cleanup and rebuilding.

"I know. He has them working already!" He sighed, "I fear what will greet me in the Mayor's office."

"It cannot be that bad, Caric." Celeborn frowned at him.

"Come, Celeborn, you have seen Cadeyrn. Can you truthfully tell me that his office will be kept in perfect order?" He laughed at Gytha's rude noise. "I do not blame Brennus. He is a very honourable man. I intend to ask him to remain in his position and be my clerk."

"Good, he has enough on his hands as it is." Gytha fixed Ivorhen with a piercing gaze. "Tell me how it is that a wound that should be healing is bleeding once more?"

Ivorhen looked away and would not answer.

"Not that I am unaware of the cause." She lifted up two small bloodstained finger tips on Tiera's hand. "Idle hands can come up with the most innocent of pastimes."

"It was how she got my attention earlier. I would not have her blamed." Ivorhen had that wonderful stubborn lift to his chin that Celeborn knew so well.

"And I would not do that. She has shed enough tears. Peace, Ivorhen, and relax please?" She went back to cleaning the wound.

"How is Brennus?" Caric asked.

"He lost a lot of blood and has yet to waken, but he is well looked-after." She nodded to a young tweenage hobbit-lass hovering by the clerk's bedside.

"Hyacinth?" Caric's eyes were wide as he sat heavily beside Celeborn. He winced as he straightened his wounded leg.

"Indeed, she wanted to sit by his bed as soon as I let her out of her own. Another case of hero worship, I think." Gytha was grinning. "I will have some tea for you shortly, Caric. Stay seated! You really should be resting, not rushing about. Imagine what Eirien would say."

"Eirien is not here and by the time she finds out..."

Celeborn chuckled. "You will be in even greater trouble, mellon-nin. Trust me, I know all about that."

"And you will not be when Galadriel realises that you have been as stubborn about your own injury?" Caric cheerfully replied.

What could Celeborn say to that?

"When do you think I can leave, Gytha? I really would like to get to Imladris and make certain that my grandsons are safe." Now that Galadriel had been mentioned, he was worried about all of his family.

"When your wound is healed, and not until. You cannot even straighten your leg, how do you expect to stand? Ivorhen cannot leave his bed until I say… Ah, ah, ah!" She wagged her finger at Ivorhen when he tried to protest. "I have seen your idea of resting and healing and it is not mine! How you lived to see your age I will never know!"

"I am a trained warrior..."

"Who will be asleep sooner than he thinks if he does not rest that too-talkative mouth!" Gytha shook her finger at Ivorhen again, just as if he were a naughty elfling.

That did it for Celeborn. He could not prevent his snort of laughter and soon he was joined by Caric.

"I am glad you both find this so funny!" Ivorhen sounded aggrieved.

"Hir-nin!" Mirien hurried into the chamber, stopping beside Celeborn with a hasty bow.

"Mirien, is there trouble?" Celeborn was no longer laughing.

"Aye, Hir-nin. Gildor sends word that they have found evidence of orcs still in Bree." Mirien sounded breathless.

"Where?" Caric growled as he sat upright.

"In the May... in your office, Hir-nin." Mirien told him.

"It is Caric and always will be Caric to you, young one." He ignored the elf's blink. "What has happened?"

"We were rebuilding some of the doors and heard noises where there should be none. There are orcs in there and they seem to be searching for something of importance. We have them surrounded, although they do not as yet know it."

"Good. We need to see to these orcs once and for all! Wolraven!" Caric tried to stand, but had to stop as his injured leg gave way.

"Da!" Wolraven rushed to his side.

"Sit!" There was no give in Gytha's voice. "Orcs or not, Lord Mayor or not, you go nowhere!"

"My people..."

"…have managed with an incompetent mayor for years. They can wait for another ten minutes." She did not wait for permission but checked his leg. "And when were you going to tell me you felt ill?"

"Later, when things were more settled. How did the orcs get in?" Caric knew that there had been no orcs left alive in Bree. They had searched the town thoroughly.

"That we do not know, Hir-nin. The doors are locked." Mirien admitted.

"A hidden entrance? Another hidden entrance?" Caric was angry now. "If he was not dead, I would make Cadeyrn wish he were right now. How could he do this to his own people?"

"I will go and help sort this out, Da. Just keep the children safe and out of sight. You are of no use to us unable to fight. I will make sure this threat is seen to." Wolraven had fire in his eyes once more.

Caric found himself wishing that Eirien were here to see it.

"Please be careful son." Caric called as he watched him walk away. How he hated being unable to go with him.

"My men are with him. They will not let anything happen to him." Celeborn could see the worry in his friend's face.

"I will go and help..." Ivorhen made as if to stand and leave the room.

Gytha stepped in front of him. "You do. I dare you to try and take one step from that bed and I will strap you down faster than you can blink!" It was no idle threat that she made, he could see that.

"I have seen her do it as well." Caric told him cheerfully. "I do not think that Tiera would let you go anyway."

The little girl had yet to move. Her hand again gripped one of his warrior braids as she slept. He had to accede that point.

"I am glad her parents are alive. I was worried." Ivorhen gently brushed her hair away from her eyes.

"We all were, especially when Erwan was found as he was." Caric admitted.

"They make life worth living, do they not?" There was wonder in Ivorhen's voice. He had long hoped someday to have a family of his own. Perhaps someday…

Caric nodded. "Every minute, even when they scare you almost to death. Speaking of that, I need to get a message to Elrond and Eirien."

"Once you have rested, I will ask Eregdos to help you. He has the best script hand of those available. Your pardon, mellon-nin, but I do not think that Tiera would leave you to even allow you to do that." Celeborn apologised to Ivorhen. He too had an elegant writing hand.

"No offence taken. I am sure that Eregdos needs the practice." If Ivorhen's eyes had been open, they would have seen the twinkle that went along with his words.

"I will make certain that he gets plenty then!" There was laughter once more in Caric's voice. This was something that he would put right. He would improve his literacy skills. Just because Cadeyrn had been happy with being illiterate, it did not mean that Caric would stand for it. Thanks to Elrond, he at least knew his letters and could read and write a bit, but not very well.

He also had a lot that needed to be said. Galadriel needed to be informed of Celeborn's injury. He figured his life would not be worth living if he did not. Eirien would have her say too. He was not sure what scared him the most, his wife or Galadriel… Actually, thinking about it, they tied nicely. No, he had no doubt that he would tell them both.

---

Wolraven led the group of men and elves toward the Mayor's office. The group that had already surrounded the building had their weapons ready and looked quite ready to enter the building. Their eagerness to fight the orcs was growing.

"Anything?" Wolraven settled beside Captain Thunor as they watched one of his men pick the lock to the door of the Mayor's office.

"Just noises." The grin that Thunor gave in return was nasty. "One would think they expect us to be deaf."

"They're hardly being quiet." A crash sounded as something was broken inside. "Nor careful."

"They are orcs you know, not exactly the most elegant or intelligent of beings." Mirien sounded disgusted just at the thought. There was a quiet click as the lock sprang open.

"Not like the elves anyway." Gildor added from his other side with a wry grin.

"True. Are we ready to go in? Da thinks that there may be another 'hidden' entrance." Wolraven readied his sword. "I would not want them to get away with whatever it is they are after."

"True." Thunor gave the signal to move and soon they were flooding in through the door. The orcs had been making so much noise that they had not heard as the lock was picked and the door slowly opened.

"Didja find it yet?" The two orcs even had their backs turned to them. They could see the 'hidden' door standing wide open. It was cleverly done and very craftily hidden. You would have to know that the door was there to be able to see the join. It just looked as if it was a fine line on the woodwork and nothing more. The 'handle' that opened it looked like nothing more than a knot in the wood. Cadeyrn had been very clever.

"Nah! 'E was lyin', da 'uman scum. Ya kilt 'im too quick." The smaller orc bent over the desk complained.

"Ya never sed that at t'time!" The other orc dropped a glass goblet, sniggering when it shattered on the floor.

"I like seein' da blood!" His voice dropped. "Woulda liked ta taste some brat flesh tho'." He licked his lips. "Maybe..."

"You will not touch our children!" Thunor had his sword raised and ready.

Both orcs jumped and turned. Surprisingly, neither one had their sword in hand. They obviously had felt so safe and confident that no one knew they were there that they had laid them on the desk.

They tried to reach the weapons, but it was a losing race, for them.

"Do not!" Gildor moved so fast across the room that both orcs and humans jumped in surprise. "Try and you will die!" His voice held such promise that the orcs gulped.

"Elf!" The ugliest orc spat the word out as if it was filthy.

"Yes, yrch?" There was undisguised hate in Gildor's voice.

"Why're dere elves 'ere?" As Ugly talked, his mate reached for one of the swords.

"We help our friends at need. Not that you have any friends. You will have one less if he does not stop moving!" The orc that was moving suddenly had a sharp elven sword at his throat.

"What are you looking for?" Wolraven and the others could move again and had edged close enough to remove the orcs' swords from their reach.

"Nuthin'." The uglier orc, who was obviously the leader, spoke.

"Nothing? You expect us to believe that?" Thunor laughed in disbelief.

"We're lookin' fer nuthin'." The orc grumbled sullenly.

"So you came back, into a town that has just killed off most of your kind, for no reason? You really expect us to believe that? What do you think we are? Idiots?" Gildor looked at the orc as if it were vermin.

"Nah, just filthy elves." The orc glowered at him.

"There are more orcs in here!" Hallam called from the tunnel. A few of the men had gone to check it out.

Wolraven and the others shared a grim look. "Are they alive?"

"Nay, they are all dead." Hallam's voice sounded pleased.

"Good, that is the only good way for an orc to be. Follow the tunnel through and see where it leads. We need to find that out. I also think we need to make these two talk." Thunor cracked his knuckles.

"A whelp like you, make us talk?" The uglier orc laughed at him.

"I have made many orcs speak in the past, more than you could count. Don't worry, we have ways. You will wish you had spoken once I have finished with you." There was such grim promise in his tone that even Gildor looked askance at him.

"A runt like..." A fist connected solidly with his chin and made the orc grunt.

"That is not nice." Wolraven growled at him.

"Easy, Raven." Wolraven had to smile as Thunor used the old nickname that he had held in the Guard. It felt as if he had never been away. "I am sure the orcs will realise just how rude they have been. They will eventually apologise, I am sure."

"Not in this life!" The orc sneered.

"Now, don't be too hasty in saying that. I'm sure we can come to some agreement about all of this." Thunor sounded delightedly cheerful. "If not, well, I know just the spot to make you realise that you have just made a very big mistake." The smile was suddenly cold.

The two orcs shared scared looks.

"Tell us what we want to know and we can help you." Wolraven knew they would not be letting the orcs go, they would also not be unnecessarily cruel. They would never reduce themselves to the same level as the orcs.

"Yeah, right!" The smaller orc sneered. "Why 'ud we b'lieve ya?"

"What choice do you have? Thunor, were any of the wargs left alive?" Gildor asked with relish. He knew some of the stories that the orcs spread about elves and what they did. They were not true, but they did not have to let the orcs know that.

"Three, I think. Shall I have them brought to the clearing? I am sure that they will be mad with pain by now..." Thunor let the sentence trail off. They all knew there were no wargs left alive from the attack. They were too unpredictable, far too dangerous to be left alive and near the town like this.

"Wargs? Ya still got wargs?" The smaller orc looked nervous.

"Yes, we still have wargs and they are very hungry." Gildor rubbed it in a little.

"Tell us what you were looking for." Wolraven sounded pleasant once more. He stood beside the desk and had begun to rifle through the papers there.

The orcs shared another look then seemed to make up their minds.

"Our Master wanted some information yer May'r was 'oldin' for 'im. 'E sed it wer' 'ere. We're ta get it and bring it to 'im."

"What is it?" Wolraven relaxed somewhat. They were finally getting somewhere.

"Papers, somefink ta do wif da Elf King…" The ugly orc suddenly crashed his fist against the other's chin. Apparently he had said too much.

Obviously there was more going on here than any of them had realised. More men rushed in and restrained the two orcs. It looked as if they were going to take their frustrations out on each other. They were quickly separated.

"Keep them apart and in separate cells. I don't even want them talking together." Wolraven told the men nearest to him.

"Of course, Raven." The two orcs were manhandled from the office.

"Gather all the papers you can find. Da will want to see them." At least they had Brennus to help them go through it all. Wolraven helped them collect the papers that had been strewn across the floor.

"Gather what you can carry. I want guards on this door and at the tunnel where it ends. I do not want this entranceway left unguarded. Anything could get in." Thunor was furious with Cadeyrn. How he could do this to his own people was beyond him. Come to that he had not seen anything of Cadeyrn's family since this crisis had finished.

"Raven, have you seen any of Cadeyrn's family since this all started?"

"Nay, I believe that he sent his wife and daughters to visit his parents a few days ago…" He stopped as he realised what he was saying. "He had this planned. That orc-faced pig had this planned all along. If he were not dead, I would take him and make him suffer!" Wolraven was suddenly angrier than he had been in a very long time.

Thunor's voice was grim. "Yes, I think this was planned for some time. To have put all this into place…" He indicated the hidden door. "Well, it would take more than a few months. He did it and he has paid the ultimate price. I just hope that other innocents have not been hurt by his greed. I am just glad he is no longer running this town."

The agreements that sounded from the others told him he was not the only one with that sentiment.

They set a guard on the office and tunnel. Thunor was gathering and placing the papers in baskets when Hallam hurried out of the tunnel.

"It leads to the outskirts of town, to the cave where we caught the orcs last year!" He was breathless.

"That figures. Well, close it and make sure there is no sign that you have been there. If this is used as I fear it is being used, then we do not want to tip them off. This could well work to our advantage." Thunor's mind was already formulating a plan. He needed to speak with the Mayor. "Raven, with me. We need to take this to your Da."

Between them, they carried the papers to the great hall near the gates. As they entered, both realised the Town Hall was perfect for the use it had been given. It was warm and safe. There was plenty of room for patients and healers alike. Under the previous mayor the only time the Town Hall had been used was when Cadeyrn decreed. This was much better.

Caric looked up as they entered, his tense face relaxed as he realised that Wolraven was with Thunor.

"What is the news?" Caric sat straighter in the chair.

Captain Thunor answered. "We have captured two orcs and have them under guard. The others were killed by their companions before they even reached the office. There is a secret entrance. It opens to a tunnel leading to the cave where the orcs were caught last year. If you recall I wanted…"

"…to investigate further but Cadeyrn would not let you. Yes I do recall. I wonder what else we are going to find?" Caric sighed tiredly. His leg was still paining him, even with the tea.

Wolraven gestured towards the woven baskets full of paperwork. "Plenty, Da. The orcs were certainly looking for something. They were rifling amongst the paperwork that Cadeyrn left, saying something about him lying and that it wasn't there. We brought the papers. I thought we could look through them to see if there was anything of importance."

"That sounds like a good plan. Especially since Gytha will not let me go. I tell you, you come to see the injured and sit down for one minute, grimace and you are done for. She is as bad as your Ma, I am telling you!" Caric grumbled away to himself.

"It is for your own good, Da, your leg was really paining you earlier. Are you feeling any better?" Wolraven was worried about his father. He would not admit to being in pain or ill.

"It is better than it was. Gytha resorted to drugging Ivorhen, he really would not rest. I thought Gytha was going to throw a tantrum." Caric was laughing.

"She still may if you don't stop that bloody noise." Gytha hurried passed them, her hands covered in bright red blood. She sounded more worried than angry.

"I think she heard you, Da." Wolraven winked at him but looked concerned as well. Who was bleeding?

"Such disrespect for the Mayor. That will change." He winked back. Caric had not seen the blood on her hands. "Let us see what we have here." The two of them bent over the papers.

Gytha returned less than a minute later, her hands once more clean. She stopped to look at them both. "Brennus is bleeding again. We may have to cauterise his stump once more. He is losing too much blood. I have it tied off, but it is still bleeding."

"Will he be alright?" Wolraven looked worriedly over to the screens around the bed where the young clerk lay senseless. They all liked the eager young man.

"If we can't stop the bleeding, he will die. He has already lost a lot of blood. I will work to make sure that does not happen. " Gytha had a stubborn set to her jaw that they all knew. They both knew if the young man were to die she would never forgive herself.

"We will pray for him." Caric was quite serious, as Gytha knew he would be.

"Good, he needs all the aid he can get." She hurried off, only to be stopped by Celeborn as she passed him.

"Can I help?" He knew a lot about the healing arts, after all.

"Not if you know what is good for you! You need to stay off that leg, thank you, though." She smiled at him to take the sting out of her words.

"I am here if you need advice." He let her go and settled back, searching his mind for some herbs that would stop the wound from bleeding so profusely. Only two things sprang to mind.

"Gytha have you tried to use spider web? I know my Woodland kin use it a lot in healing." They did after all have a steady supply nearby.

"I have tried yarrow, it is slowing it but not stopping it, I doubt we have enough spider web to use it for this." Gytha was honest.

"Ma uses flour when we cut ourselves at home." Briena called from where she was sitting next to Athlon.

"We have some of that, anything to stop the bleeding." Gytha turned to Hyacinth. "Can you fetch me some, dearest?"

The hobbit lass nodded and left the chamber. The minute the door closed behind her, though, Gytha's entire demeanour changed. "Get that fire banked and the flame hot. I need to cauterise, I just did not want Hyacinth to know about it. Wolraven, I need her kept outside while we do this."

"I will see to that, Gytha." Thunor stood. "She won't come in until you wish her to."

"Thank you." Gytha disappeared behind the screens hiding Brennus from view.

"Can I help you with that?" Celeborn gestured towards the basket of papers. "Another pair of eyes cannot hurt and it will not damage my leg."

"That is true, Gytha can't complain at that." At his father's agreement Wolraven handed Celeborn some of the papers.

Silence fell in the hall. The only sound from the three males was the rustling of parchment.

"Caric?" Celeborn's melodic voice was suddenly heard.

"Yes, Cel?" Caric called back.

"Is there a mine of any sort nearby?"

"Yes, for the iron ore to make many of the weapons and tools that we use. Why?" Caric was puzzled.

"Later. Could Cadeyrn read?" Celeborn set aside a small pile of parchment.

"No, that was why he had Brennus as his clerk." Caric was dismissive of the ex-mayor.

"Are you sure of that?" Celeborn looked up at him.

"He always told us that he could not read. Have you found evidence to the contrary?" Caric could tell that Celeborn had found something.

"Let me finish looking through this, but yes I have found something. Wolraven, do you have any figures for the mine? I just warn you both that this may take some time to go through." Celeborn was already looking through the next piece of parchment.

"I am sure I can find it. How far back?" Wolraven was looking through the papers quickly.

"As far back as when Cadeyrn first became Mayor, I think this all began then." Another piece of parchment joined the small pile.

Page after page was sorted onto either pile as they worked.

"There are no figures here!" Wolraven had reached the bottom of his basket.

Celeborn threw the last of his parchment down in disgust. "I was not truly expecting to find any." He cast a speculative and worried glance over at the screens around Brennus' bed.

Almost as if in answer to his prayer the screens opened and Gytha came out. She looked tired. At first Celeborn feared the worst.

"Gytha?" He almost did not dare to ask.

"He will live. We managed to stop the bleeding with the cauterising. He lost a lot of blood he could ill-afford to lose though." She tiredly rubbed her eyes.

"Please, sit here." He patted his bed. "When will I be able to speak with him?"

"I do not know when he will waken, it may take some time. There is a problem?" Her sharp eyes bore into him as she tiredly sat on the edge of his bed.

"Yes, and it is an old one. This is a mess." Celeborn shook his head in disgust. "Cadeyrn was plundering the town. It came from everything from the mine down to the infirmary. He has been skimming off money and goods from almost every part of Bree."

"What!" Caric all but shouted in his dismay.

"It was slowly and carefully done, Caric. Who would have noticed it happening in the course of years? If the money and provisions had vanished overnight you would all have realised. This way, so slowly and so insidiously done, it was overlooked. You had no way of knowing and with the increased orc activity you had greater concerns." Celeborn could see all too well that this had been carefully planned and thought out.

"But, Brennus..." Caric could not believe what he was hearing.

"He may have been kept as much in the dark as you were. If Cadeyrn was hiding the fact that he could read, then he could have sorted through the papers and kept out only those that he wished Brennus to see. This past winter must have been a gift to him. The final nail in the coffin so to speak."

Celeborn could imagine how much glee Cadeyrn must have felt when the winter had fallen so harshly, when the crops had failed... He could blame all kinds of discrepancies on that alone.

"That... monster!" Gytha could not put her feelings into words, sputtering to find a harsher word to describe him.

"Yes, and he then invited other monsters into Bree through the back door." Caric spoke out in disgust.

"The town is at a low point, yes, but it can recover. We have proof of that now and some of the names of people Cadeyrn used to achieve this. It will take time, but we will get to the bottom of all of this and with you as the new Mayor we can rebuild Bree."

He straightened in the bed as much as he could for this, but this was also needed. "Mayor Caric of Bree, I, Lord Celeborn of Lothlorien, hereby offer you official aid in the re-building of your town. I know my allies, Lord Elrond and Aran Thranduil, will wish to extend their aid as well."

"Thank you, Lord Celeborn." Never had Caric sounded so official. "On behalf of Bree, I thank you and accept your generous offer."

"Good, now that the pair of you have that out of the way, I want you both to rest! Celeborn that leg needs to be raised more and it is time you had more tea. Caric, straighten that leg and if I see you crossing those ankles again you will wish you had never been born!" She turned to the smirking Wolraven. "What are you smirking about? You should have told him otherwise!"

Wolraven looked at her, a little stunned. "B... But I did not know!"

"That is no excuse!" She threw her hands up into the air in frustration "Do none of you men think?"

"Gytha, when did you last eat?" Wolraven suddenly had an idea.

"What has that got to do with anything?" She glowered at him.

"Let me see." He held up his hand and ticked off the fingers as he spoke. "Cranky. Rude. Obnoxious. Could this be the effects of being on your feet for far too long, without food and drink?"

Gytha seemed to deflate in front of them. "I think that you might well be right, Wolraven. When did you get to be so smart, anyway?" There was a small smile on her pale, tired face.

"He must have got it from me." Caric's eyes were twinkling and Gytha had to laugh.

"More likely from Eirien!"

"I will get you some food. Da, do you want anything? Celeborn?"

Once it was established that there was nothing that the others needed, Wolraven stood. As he moved away, he was stopped by Celeborn. "Could you ask Eregdos to come in? Have him bring some parchment with him. We should get this agreement down in writing."

"Good thinking, Cel, the last thing I want is to start my term as mayor the same way that he did." Suddenly a goblet appeared before him.

"For the pain that neither you nor Celeborn are feeling." Briena told him tartly. "Did you think that we would not notice, Da?" She held a second goblet out for Celeborn as well…

"I was hoping not." He glowered at her but took the tea anyway. The women of the family were more than a minor force to be reckoned with. He would not put it past her to have him held down and force-fed the blasted tea. It was better to give in, even if that was with ill-grace!

"You should tell me when you hurt, both of you, or must I tell your wives that you are being stubborn and not admitting to needing aid? Or do I take matters into my own hands and just keep you asleep? I will do it." Gytha stood glaring at them again, hands on hips.

Neither man was under any illusion that she would not do just that. One glance at Ivorhen told them she was not bluffing. They had seen her do it to the other ellon not two hours before.

The chamber door suddenly burst open and an obviously steaming-mad Hyacinth, strode into the chamber.

"Why would you not let me back in? You sent me to fetch something and then told Thunor to keep me out. I won't have it!" She stamped a hairy foot in temper.

Caric had to bury his face in the goblet to keep from laughing out loud.

"I had to get you so out that I could treat Brennus. You can come and sit with him now. Did you bring the herbs?" Gytha said nothing about the young hobbit's little tantrum. She was as guilty of doing that as anyone was.

"Yes, here. I want to see Brennus." She tossed her hair and walked to the bed. Gytha watched her in amused shock.

Caric's laughter changed that.

"You think that is funny, do you, My Lord Mayor?" She rounded on him. "Just because..."

"Here is a meal for you, Gytha." Wolraven handed her a platter full of meat and potatoes. "I brought you some watered wine. I did not think you would want to drink it full-strength at the moment." He flashed a charming smile.

"Thank you, Raven. You are such a gift to your parents. You are eating, I hope? I know you have not really had much chance either."

"Yes I am. I am hungry too." They ate together in comfortable silence.

After they had finished, Eregdos came in with parchment, ink and quill. "You called for me, Hir Celeborn?"

"Yes, we wish you to scribe two documents, one is a letter to Hir Elrond and one official script for Caric to have as a record of the agreement that we have just reached." Celeborn had finally finished the tea that Briena had given him and placed the goblet to one side.

"Of course, as you wish, Hir-nin!" Eregdos pulled up a chair then placed his ink, quill and parchment on one of the tables beside him. As they watched, he settled himself and pulled the parchment in front of him and loaded the quill with ink. He sat alert and upright as he waited for them to begin dictating what they wished him to write.

An hour later they were still composing the letter to Elrond. Briena sat beside Athlon's bed in quiet amazement. She would never have believed that her father could be like this. He seemed so different from the father she knew, the grumpy old gate keeper that she loved so much. This new man in front of her was almost a stranger, but a wonderful stranger at that. Her mother would be so pleased and proud when she saw Wolraven too!

If her father was an amazing transformation, her brother was a revelation. This was the brother she had grown up with, the bright-eyed terror who would stop at nothing to help another in trouble.

She could still hardly believe it! Her father was the Mayor of Bree! She wished that she could be there when her mother got this letter. The look on her face would be worth the journey, just to see.

How she missed her Ma, she hoped that she would be home soon. She would want to see Da like this. He was now talking about Athlon and letting Ma know he had been injured. She would not be happy. When he recovered, Athlon would be amazed at how she would mother him. He was already treated as one of the family, even before they married. She was luckier than she could have said, but then this happened.

She stroked Athlon's hands absently, he had to be...

Voices were suddenly heard through an open window. "Riders! Riders are coming!" The cry went up from the guards on the ruined gate.

In that one instant, the relaxed atmosphere in the hall changed. Those that were able to stood and reached for the weapons they had not let fall far from them. Briena already had her sword in hand. She would meet this new threat as she had been taught, head on and with her sword raised. If they wanted to try and enter the hall they would have to get through her to do so.

"Wolraven!" Caric was struggling upright only to be pushed back down by Gytha.

"I will go see who it is, Da. Thunor is mustering the men and elves!" Wolraven ran for the door, not even stopping to look at his father.

Celeborn reached for his own sword. It would not be perfect, fighting from the bed, but he could, and would if he needed to.

Eregdos set down his quill and hurried from the room after saluting Celeborn, his sword in his hand and a grim set to his face.

Tiera woke up from where she slept on Ivorhen. The noise frightened her and she started crying, scared that the monsters were here once more.

The sight tugged at Celeborn's heart as she sobbed and held on to Ivorhen with all her worth, poking him and calling for 'My Elf'. Ivorhen did not stir and this frightened Tiera all the more.

"Elfy! Wake up, My Elf!" Was all she could say amid her sobs.

Her own tantrum forgotten, Hyacinth stood from Brennus's side and held out her hands so that Tiera could go to her. Not surprisingly, Tiera refused. She would not leave her elf.

"I will stay with her, Lass." Gytha knew that Tiera would not budge from where she perched next to Ivorhen. This could make matters interesting when it got to when Ivorhen had been awake long enough to drink sufficiently to need the necessary. She could just picture him having to take Tiera with him.

When Gytha reached Ivorhen's side, she sat down next to Tiera. Tiera did not need any further invitation. Moving in such a way that meant she did not have to let go of Ivorhen, she crawled onto Gytha's lap.

"There are no more monsters here, little one. It could be anyone come to check on us. I will not let anyone near you." She hugged the crying child to her and for the first time wondered if she had done the right thing in drugging Ivorhen.

They all waited until they heard the cry go out: "Halt! Who goes there!" It was Wolraven's voice heard quite clearly through an open window.

It seemed to take forever before the answer came and it was a voice that Celeborn knew all too well. He could have groaned aloud and yet he should also have expected this.

"I am Amaruvdor, son of Lord Bainen of Fornost. We come in search of the elf Celeborn and his men." Celeborn bristled at the lack of the use of his title. Normally he would think nothing of it, but there was something about this human that seemed to grate on his nerves. "He was meant to be heading here, although I doubt that he has arrived." His voice was laced with disdain.

Wolraven's voice fairly dripped ice as he replied. As gatekeeper, naturally, he was the only one, aside from Caric, who could grant entrance to the town. "Actually, Lord Celeborn and his men arrived two days ago now, in time to help us fight off a band of orcs. He was injured during his journey, but did not let that prevent him from fighting beside us."

"He is here then?" Amaruvdor called to his escort. "Dismount. We have injured that need aid. I would wager that the elf received nothing more than a scratch. Where is your infirmary? I would take your hand off of my chest, Elf."

"I would not take another step forward if I were you, Adan!" Surprisingly, it was Eregdos who answered and his voice was almost a deadly whisper.

"Who are you to tell me what to do? Get your filthy hands off me! Wait until my father hears of this!"

"Your father is here in Bree?" Wolraven sounded amused even though his tone was still cold.

"Well no, but..."

"Then what can he do to help you? What do you want in Bree? We have little time to spend on visitors at present." Wolraven asked, quite sensibly.

"I told you, I am here to speak with Cele..."

"Lord Celeborn! I will not remind you of this again." Wolraven cut him off.

"I am here to speak with Lord Celeborn and have my injured men cared for." The voice regained its haughty tone. "So if you would let us by..."

"You can enter when I say you can come in and not before. Look around you man! What do you think has happened here? Many of the town's people are injured, a lot of our buildings damaged and you demand aid? None of you look to be so seriously injured that we need drag the healers away from those in greater need. For your information, that does include Lord Celeborn. If I were in your shoes..." Wolraven could not believe the audacity of this idiot in front of him.

"Then I am thankful that I am not in your shoes, doorman. I at least have some brain..." The sound of a fist hitting flesh sounded loud and hard. Gytha covered her mouth to stop the glee from erupting. Wolraven would never idly stand by and let someone call him that in that tone.

"Why you!" A scuffle ensued and again the sound of fist meeting flesh sounded.

"Have you had enough?" Thunor sounded as if he was having the time of his life. "If you have, please allow me to introduce you to the son of our Mayor. Wolraven, I do not think he will be giving you any more trouble."

"I'd agree with you there, Captain Thunor. If you can keep a civil tongue in your head, and if you behave, we will let you into the town. We may even grant you aid, but I warn you, if you speak like that to anyone else and if I see you attacking another person like that again, I will personally throw you into the town's cells. Unfortunately, at the moment they are our pig sties. Our jails were badly damaged in the orc attack. Then, when you are freed, I will throw you out of Bree myself. Am I clear?" Wolraven sounded glorious, Celeborn had to admit. If anything, the attack had reawakened the man that had been locked inside Wolraven for so long.

"You are the mayor's son?" The sneer was still there in Amaruvdor's voice.

"Yes, I am, and right proud of it!"

"We will… behave." It was reluctant. Amaruvdor was obviously not happy with the fact that he had met someone who would not treat him deferentially just because of who his father was.

"Good, our men will make certain that you keep to that." Thunor stated.

"In that case, you may enter. You may also need someone to look at that bloody nose and black eye." Wolraven sounded amused. Obviously, like most bullies, Amaruvdor could not carry through his promise of violence without the help of others.

Gytha looked down at the hiccupping child in her arms. "See, there are no monsters, just a silly man acting like a child." She tweaked Tiera's nose earning her a watery giggle. Gytha looked up at Hyacinth who had not moved from where she had stopped. Gytha was undecided as to who needed her the most. The young hobbit-lass obviously needed some comfort too. Gytha opened her other arm and Hyacinth hurried to her, wincing as she was pulled into a hug. The wound on her ribs was hurting her more than she was letting on. She wanted to be there for Brennus though, as he had been there for her.

Gytha made the hold as soft as she could, aware of the state of the tweenage Halfling's ribs and uttered quiet reassurances. She knew she should really go and see to the newcomers' injuries, but sometimes this took precedence. Besides, if they were fighting and being so argumentative, they could not be that badly hurt.

Hyacinth eventually pulled back and shakily wiped her face. "Sorry." She whispered.

"What in the world are you sorry for, child? You have nothing to be sorry for."

"Not'ing" Tiera agreed and reached out to hug her.

Hyacinth smiled and hugged her back. "I will stay with Tiera if you need to go and see to them."

"Are you sure, my dear? You are hurt yourself and still need to rest." She could see the pinched look to her face as Hyacinth struggled to hide her pain.

"I am fine. I can sit with them. She will not leave him and I can see Brennus from here." She smiled once more at Tiera who was playing with one of Ivorhen's dark braids. Tierra had one braid in her mouth and the other clutched in her hand. "He will need to wash his hair soon, it will be very sticky. Perhaps I could do that when she sleeps?"

"That would be a good idea, I think that Ivorhen would thank you for that and Celeborn or one of the other elves would probably help you to braid it again. He will be none the wiser as to what Tiera here has been up to then. Tiera, will you stay here with Hyacinth? I will be back very shortly." It took a moment for her to settle the little girl back onto the bed. She kissed the sweet little nose before she stood and left the hall, hoping that no one would see the tears in her eyes. She had always wanted children of her own but had not met someone she wished to have them with until it was too late. Still, she had Jowan to spend her evenings with now.

Celeborn watched her go, a look of sorrow on his face. "She would have made a good mother."

"Aye, it is also what made her a good birthing woman." Caric admitted.

"You made a wise choice for your healer." Celeborn was smiling again.

"Aye, she will not take any fuss from the men and that is what is needed."

Suddenly another voice drifted in through the open window. "A woman? You expect me to believe that your healer is a woman? Do not touch me!" Amaruvdor sounded much aggrieved.

"That is well and good with me, child! When you grow up, or the pain gets too bad for you to cope with, I will be here. Until then, I will abide by your wishes. Move!" Gytha's voice was hard once more.

"What? No! I am injured!" It was obvious that Amaruvdor had not expected that. "Get back here and see to me! Get her back here!"

Wolraven answered him in a reasonable tone, though it was a bit strained. "You told her you did not need her. I think you should make up your mind as to what you really want. You have hurt her feelings. She will not treat you now until you apologise properly. And, Amaruvdor, I meant what I said. If you are rude once more I will carry out my threat."

Within seconds, the door opened as the injured were led into the hall. Celeborn saw that, although they looked a little worse for wear, they were all on their feet and able to walk unaided.

Gytha led them to some empty mattresses that still lined the wall and sat them down. To the others' amusement, she started as far away from Amaruvdor as she could. He had taken the first mattress opposite Celeborn, obviously thinking that would get him aid faster than the others. He was proven wrong once more.

Gytha started with the more seriously injured of the men. His arm had been badly gashed. Although it had been bound, he had still lost a lot of blood.

"What happened?" She washed her hands and began to remove the blood-soaked bandage.

"We met a small group of orcs. They did not last long but fought hard. Ouch!" He winced as the bandage pulled at the hairs on his arm.

"Stop being a baby, even Hyacinth there did not make this much noise when I treated her wounds." Gytha told him shortly, indicating a little hobbit-lass entertaining a small child next to an unconscious elf.

"She was injured? By what?" He asked worriedly, is own pain forgotten. The lass looked so young. He had met many hobbits over the years and liked them all.

"Orcs, Bree was attacked by a large group of orcs. The ones you met must have been a remnant of that. The town has been badly damaged, but we will survive." Gytha was washing the wound. It was deep and nasty. She would need to stitch it.

"I am sorry to hear all this. We could see the glow of flames in the sky last night and speculated as to what it was. Amaruvdor laughed and said whoever it was deserved it for letting them get near. He is an idiot!"

"You think that highly of him then?" Gytha sounded amused.

"Him? No, not one of us. We did not agree with his reasons for coming here. Amaruvdor forced his father into letting him come and we were ordered to accompany him as protection. He made us surround him so that the orcs could not get close to him. He told us that his father would have our head if we did not protect him. He is a bully and a braggart. As far as I know, he has no friends, just hangers-on, because of his status."

"It was the impression that I had of him, I will admit. This needs stitching." Gytha told him.

"I know. Our healer was told, by him, that we could not stop to properly tend our hurts. He claimed that it was more important that he get here."

"Again, I am not surprised." She picked up the needle and began to suture the wound.

When she had finished, one of the women came in behind her to bind it. "Stay in bed. Rest, you have lost a lot of blood."

Gytha worked her way down the row and every one of the men told her much the same tale. Not one of them had a good word to say for Amaruvdor. When she reached him, or rather his bed, she ignored him, passed him by, going directly to Celeborn.

"How are you feeling now?" She reached for his wrist, speaking in low tones so others could not hear.

"Better, hennad, that last tea helped. How are they?" He had watched her as she treated them. Celeborn could well imagine what had been going through Amaruvdor's mind when he took the mattress nearest to him. Amaruvdor had not greeted him, nor had he even looked at him. Considering that he had apparently come here specifically to see Celeborn, that was pretty odd behaviour.

"Sore, injured and very mad, I have met none with a good word for him. They seem to feel quite the opposite." Gytha counted his pulse before touching his forehead. It was cool to the touch.

"It was the same back in Fornost. He relies on his father's name and title far too much." He winced as she touched his leg, it was not as tender as it had been, but it was still quite sore.

"I am hoping that Raven's little 'lesson' would help with that." Gytha frowned when he winced once again. "It is still hurting you?"

"Aye, a bit. I think it will take more than that to..."

Amaruvdor suddenly spoke up. "Larion! Go and fetch some food. I am hungry."

It turned out that Larion was the first Fornost warrior that Gytha had treated for the arm wound. "I have been told by the healer that I must rest and stay in the bed." His voice sounded happy of that fact.

"See what I mean?" Celeborn asked, grimly amused. "Some never learn."

"Did you not hear what I ordered you to do? Get me some food and get it now! I do not want some stupid excuse!" Amaruvdor was as snide with his guards as he was with the rest of them. Celeborn could understand why they did not like the man.

Gytha sighed and stood, she made her way to Larion's bed. "You move an inch from that bed and you will regret it for some time to come. You see that dark-haired elf over there with the child? He stood when I told him to rest and ignored my warning. Do you see what he is doing now?"

"Sleeping?" Larion had looked to where she had instructed.

"Yes, and do you know why he is sleeping?" Gytha sounded fierce.

"No." He looked like a child being told off by his mother.

"I drugged him." She sounded quite proud of that.

"You... you did?" He sounded quite shocked.

"I did. I am not above doing it again should I have need. Now stay!"

Gytha then turned to Amaruvdor and her demeanour changed even more. Sparks seemed to fly from her eyes. "As for you! This is my healing wing." Amaruvdor sneered at that. "It may not be much, but it is all we have at the moment. Your injured were grateful enough for the facility. Now I will pass this ruling down to the others helping to care for the wounded and I will make sure that those who are not here will also be told this. Since you are not incapacitated, you will get your own food or starve. The same applies for any drinks you wish. Anything you need is down to you to get. You will not be coddled here. If you threaten one of my patients again you will have no need for food." As she spoke, she took determined steps forward. By the time she had finished, Amaruvdor had pressed himself against the wall. "Do I make myself clear?"

For the first time since they had arrived Celeborn could see the fear on Amaruvdor's visage, real fear and not pretend. All the affectations seemed to dissipate with the wind.

"Do I make myself clear!" There was real command in her voice and many realised that before them was not just a healer but a warrior who had faced down orcs without batting an eyelid.

"Yes." His voice was barely above a squeak.

"Good." She dismissed him with a flick of her head and turned to Celeborn. "And as for you, My Lord Friend, it is time to look at that mess that you call a leg!" She swept over to Celeborn's mattress and began gathering the things she would need.

Briena had stood from her post at Athlon's side and walked slowly near Amaruvdor, she was looking at the two children by Ivorhen and did not see the gleam that suddenly shone in his eyes. It was gone by the time she looked at him.

She stopped by his bed, fully intending to go on to her father's bedside. She just felt it fair to inform him of certain facts. "I will warn you this, don't mess with Gytha. She has killed more orcs than you will ever face and without a flicker of fear."

"Is that so? And what should I do with the old Hag? But you..." He reached out and caught her by the hand as she turned away and pulled her into his lap. "I know what I would do with you, you little beaut..." He suddenly stopped talking. His eyes bugged from his head and his face took on a rather dark puce colour.

"I would let me go if I were you." Briena's voice was still pleasant, but it held a throb of anger and a hint of danger within it.

His hands released her rather swiftly and were held up in supplication.

"You will never touch me again, do you hear?" He nodded almost desperately. "If I hear you have touched another woman in this town I will make certain that you never have those urges again." She twisted her hand which was buried deep in his groin, earning a grunt of pain. "DO you understand my meaning?"

He squeaked. "Yes, let go!" There was even more desperation in his voice.

"You did not say pwease." The voice came from a very young source and spoke around a thumb.

Briena had to laugh and her grip grew harder, earning an even higher squeak of pain. "You are right Tiera. He has not once said 'please' to anyone since he has been here. I think he should say 'please'. What do you think, Tiera?"

"Yeth." She nodded her agreement, pleased to be asked.

"Then, sir, I think you should do as this child bids and use 'please' and 'thanks' while you are here. Mayhap the manners we use are not used at your home, but they are expected and will be used here." Another twist followed by a higher squeak. Stunned silence had fallen in the chamber as everyone watched him being put very firmly in his place. "Well?"

"Please, let go, My Lady. Please, I beg of you." Amaruvdor was becoming most desperate.

"Since you ask so sweetly, yes, I will let you go. But heed my words, all of them." She let him go and he fell back, his hands clutching at the wounded area as he backed away from her. He looked more terrified of Briena than he had of Gytha. Celeborn had not thought that would be at all possible.

She ignored him though and made her way to her father. She spoke in a low tone, for Caric's ears alone. "Da, I do not think he should be given free reign of the town."

"I agree, dear one and well done. When he grabbed you I thought..."

"Da, I can look after myself. You should know that. You and Ma taught me well. A little jumped-up fart like him is no threat to me." She had purposefully raised her voice on the last sentence so that Amaruvdor and everyone else could hear. The laughter that had abated a bit sounded even more loudly now. Even the men that had traveled with Amaruvdor did not hide their glee. He would not even look in their direction.

"Besides, how could I be the Mayor's daughter and not be able to look after myself?"

They were not aware that Amaruvdor's head shot up and his face paled even more as he heard Briena's words. He groaned. This was not going well. Through his own actions, he had managed to alienate the Mayor's children and most likely the Mayor himself, all within an hour of reaching Bree. The elf, lying opposite him, he did not care a jot about. It would be interesting to see what this 'wound' really was. His men would then see just how weak the elves really were.

Caric was proud of his daughter. "True, and I am sure your mother will be relieved to hear that. Sit, child. How is Athlon?"

Gytha settled back down to her work on Celeborn's leg. It had been very amusing to see Briena put Amaruvdor in his place. Caric's daughter may look thin and currently in need of a few good meals, but that was worry over everything that had happened recently. She was far stronger than she looked. She had to be, to wield a bow like she did and then be able to pick up a sword.

"I will wash my hands and take the dressing down and then re-wash them." That was how Elrond had taught her and how she always did things.

Celeborn nodded and looked up as he heard the rustle of movement across the way. Yes, Amaruvdor had moved so that he could watch what was going on. Let him watch. It was nothing to Celeborn if he wanted to be nosy.

Gytha returned with a basin to gently clean the leg. It was still swollen and incredibly bruised. The knee and ankle were bruised all around and three times their normal size and the five different lines of sutures stood out starkly against the colour of his skin.

"You really need to keep off of this leg, Celeborn. It is not good. Even with your rapid healing, it is going to take a few days for the swelling to go down and your ankle!" Gytha looked up at him with worry only to stop as he gestured over her shoulder. She did not need to look to know who he was meaning. A wide, mischievously evil grin chased across her face and she deliberately moved so that he would get a really good look at the injured leg.

They could not miss the shocked gasp that came from Amaruvdor's direction. It was followed by more from his men who had curiously moved to look. Their reactions were more sympathetic and Celeborn could tell that they were upset at the state of his leg.

"You did a lot of damage to this leg by staying on it. I know what was happening at the time, but really Celeborn, I would have thought you would have known better, silly elfling! This is going to be painful as it heals and I am still not sure that you have not broken a bone yet. I cannot tell that until the swelling goes down."

Gytha continued cleaning down the leg, stopping every now and then as Celeborn groaned when she hit a particularly sore area. ""I am sorry. I am being as gentle as I can be." She wiped more exudate away.

"How did this happen, my lord?" One of Amaruvdor's men inquired. He sounded worried.

They did not see the scowl that Amaruvdor shot their way. They were not meant to be sympathetic towards the elf!

"We were attacked by orcs twice on the way here. When we got here the orcs had surrounded the town. We had no choice but to fight." Celeborn hissed with pain once more.

"He should have been resting this leg. It would have healed faster. Thank goodness the infection has at least eased." She glowered sternly at him.

"It was infected? How did you stand?" Larion was clearly awed. It was written all over his face. All the way from Fornost, Amaruvdor had told them again and again how the elves were weak and devious, that they cared nothing for the suffering of men and would do nothing to aid them. He claimed that was why they had left the town so suddenly, by stealth. They had all begun to see that he was more than a little bitter against the elves for some reason.

Gytha answered for him. "With a great deal of difficulty and not a little pain." Celeborn was too caught up in the pain from his multiple wounds. "What Lord Celeborn did not tell you is that his horse fell on the leg, not once but twice, and he also got an orc knife through his thigh, in through the front and out through the back. From what I gather, it was a nasty sight to see." Gytha was perhaps laying it on a little thick, but if it lost Amaruvdor just that little more leverage with his men, she would tell them all about it.

Amaruvdor actually turned green. He could practically see the wound and knife in his mind's eye. It caused him to shiver.

Celeborn could not have spoken at the moment if he had wanted to. His leg felt as if it was on fire and the skin tingled with pain. His muscles seemed to be cramping and all he wanted was for it to end. He clenched his teeth and breathed heavily.

It was then, as he was fighting the pain, that he felt the familiar presence in his mind.

/Meleth/ Ai,Valar! Galadriel would choose this moment to contact him.

/Galadriel/ He sounded weak, even to himself.

/What is it? Meleth, what is wrong/ Galadriel sounded worried. /I have been waiting for you to contact me./

Celeborn winced at that. He had deliberately not contacted Galadriel as he recovered from his injuries. He knew what she would say to him.

/I am sorry, meleth. There has been much to do and Gytha had me drugged for a while./

/I forgive you, although I was worried. How are your injuries? I can feel your pain./ Quiet worry thrummed through their connection.

/Gytha is dressing my wounds and they are sore. You should know, so you can inform Lord Bainen, Amaruvdor arrived this evening. He is being his usual charming self and endearing himself to one and all. Their party encountered some orcs, as did we. They took some minor injuries but he is well, if a little bruised. He was in perfect health until he got to Bree./ There was pure amusement in his voice.

/What happened/ Galadriel sounded curious.

/He insulted me in front of Wolraven and then insulted Raven as well. He learned the hard way that Raven is not to be trifled with. Then he insulted Gytha, who is now Bree's Healer. He is still waiting to be treated for the bruises that Raven gave him./

It was wonderful to hear Galadriel's clear laughter as it pealed across the miles to him.

/But that is not all. He then tried to be fresh with Briena and learned that she is not as weak as he expected her to be. He is nursing a very bruised gweth and a badly injured pride./

Her laughter was longer and clearer. Suddenly the pain seemed to recede a bit.

/Are you well/ Celeborn asked her.

/Aye, we are being well looked after here. I miss you. I was worried about you when the orcs attacked. I am relieved to know that you are better. But, Celeborn Silvertree, if you ever do that again I will never forgive you/

It was Celeborn's turn to laugh, knowing full well that she did not mean it. /Have you had any more dreams of the web? Any more visions/

"Nay, nothing, they have stopped./ Galadriel sounded puzzled.

/That is strange. Saes meleth, let me know if you do? I would find it most interesting./ In truth, he was as puzzled as she was. Though, he was also glad she had a respite from the visions.

/I will./ She promised him. /When will you be able to leave Bree/

/Not for a few days, at least not until Gytha gives me permission. Have you heard from Elrond/

/No, I am becoming even more concerned about him by the day. I hope he is alright./

/He will be. Elrond always is, as is Thranduil. I will.../ A sharp slap caught his attention. /I need to go. I will contact you tomorrow if I do not hear from you before. Stay safe Meleth. Gerich veleth nín./ Celeborn told her.

/Please stay safe, Melethron./

Another sharp slap on his cheek and he blinked up at Gytha. She had her hand raised to hit him once more.

Celeborn reached to gently halt her arm before another blow could fall. "I am awake!" He really did not want to be hit again, his cheek was stinging, but that was nothing to what his leg was doing. It felt as if it had turned into Mount Doom with the way it was burning.

"You blanked out on me. I was worried when you would not respond to me. I thought you had passed out." Gytha truly sounded worried.

Celeborn glanced at Caric who shrugged his shoulders at his friend. He had tried to explain, but Gytha had been more intent on her patient than the Mayor.

"I was conversing with Galadriel..." Celeborn tried to explain.

Amaruvdor made a disparaging noise. "If you believe that, you will believe anything. He will have you believe that the Witch he calls his wife can talk to him over great distances." Amaruvdor could stay quiet no more. Really! This was getting ridiculous. As if one could speak over such a distance. The next thing they would claim was that they could see the future.

Caric had just about had enough from this upstart who had come into Bree and decided he knew better than anyone else.

"May I ask when you have had dealings with the elves that you are such an expert on them?" He sat himself upright.

The look that Amaruvdor shot him should have been enough to curl his hair... if it had not already been curly to start with.

"Probably more than you have, you old fool!" There was pure disdain in his voice. What did this old man know? He's probably a stupid stable hand.

There were protests from everyone in the chamber apart from the newcomers. They stayed quiet, not sure what was going on and not wanting to side with Amaruvdor.

Caric brushed off the protests and turned to the young man. He was determined to put him in his place. Was he really that much of an idiot? "For your information, young man, I was fighting beside this elf and his kin before you were even thought of. They are honourable, fair and wise and for your information, yes, they can mind-speak with their bonded. They can also ..."

"Fly? If so why did they have to ride here? I believe nothing they tell me and the fact that you do makes you the bigger fool!" Amaruvdor crossed his arms as a signal of finality.

"I fear it is you who is the bigger fool. I think it is time that you left Bree. You are no longer welcome here. Your men are more than welcome to stay, but that does not extend to you." Caric told him from his bed, Celeborn nodded his approval. This continuing string of disparaging remarks and digs against the elves was not welcome when they were recovering from the attack that the orcs had forced upon them.

"And who are you to give me that kind of order, you ridiculous old man!" Amaruvdor could not believe this. It would actually be amusing if it weren't so sad.

"You not thpeak like tat!" Tiera spoke up from the bed beside Ivorhen. She had been watching all this with interest, but she would not stand to see this silly loud man being nasty to Uncle Caric.

"Shut up, brat, I am not speaking to you!" Amaruvdor dismissed her without even looking in her direction.

"You will apologise for that right now!" The voice was strong and sure and held such authority that Amaruvdor automatically turned to see who had spoken. It was the elf beside the girl. He sneered at him, if he was weak enough to need to be looked after by a child... He turned away.

By the time he had turned back to look at Caric, Ivorhen was by his side. The self-appointed Fornost contingent blinked. How had the elf moved that fast? That was incredible!

"I said that you will apologise to Tiera and you will do it this minute!" A hard grip on Amaruvdor's arm made him wince and Gytha could be heard telling Ivorhen to get back to bed now. "In a minute, Gytha, this has been some time in the coming."

Amaruvdor's eyes were wide. He had seen this elf before in Fornost and had dismissed him with the thought that he was just another pretty boy, nice to look at but nothing more. The way the hand gripped his arm told him that he might have been wrong on that account.

"Unhand me, elf!"

"When you have apologised to Tiera, not until then." Ivorhen pressed his fingers further into the arm.

"You are mad! I will not apologise to a child." Amaruvdor was certain of that. Those long thin fingers seemed to have developed into claws and the pain was building as his fingers went numb. He realised very quickly that he did not really have much choice. If he wished to keep him arm, he would have to apologise to someone for the first time in his life. He took a deep breath, but the words seemed to stick in his throat. He finally managed to grind the words out. "I am sorry, Tiera. I did not mean to be so rude to you."

"Alwight." Tiera nodded and her eyes shone with love for her elf once more.

Unfortunately, Amaruvdor found that Ivorhen had not yet released him. He turned worried eyes to Ivorhen.

"Tiera is not the only one who you need to apologise to. You need to say 'sorry' to Mayor Caric." Ivorhen's voice was cold.

"The Mayor? But I have not yet met the mayor at all!" Amaruvdor sounded so certain it was laughable.

"Oh, but you have. You just did not realise it at the time." There was a cold grin on Ivorhen's face.

Amaruvdor felt his stomach drop, he had met the Mayor? Who could it be? Wolraven? No, he was too uncouth to be the Mayor. Had he insulted him? He hoped not, his father would not be amused with him again if that were so.

"Should we tell him, Mayor Caric?" There was respect in Ivorhen's slightly-raised voice.

Amaruvdor was still not sure who the Mayor of this forsaken place was. "Mayor Caric?" He looked around for the noble person he expected to see.

"Yes?" Caric asked.

Amaruvdor closed his eyes, it could not be. By the gods, please, it could not be. He opened them and looked again. In front of him was the old man, the one he had been so rude and insulting to since he arrived with his men.

"You are the Mayor?" His voice was soft.

"Aye, I am the mayor of Bree. But then, if you had asked before, we would have told you, but you decided that you knew better than the rest of us." Caric's voice was still cold. He wouldn't blame this boy's parents. It was just as likely that they would be horrified with how he was behaving. He could easily have alienated the two towns and caused more problems than he could have dreamt of. As it was, he would be speaking with Lord Bainen about this. He doubted he would be happy.

"I am sorry, I did not think." Amaruvdor actually felt ashamed.

"That was blatantly obvious!" Caric told him, his tone short. "The next time you arrive at an unfamiliar town you should make sure that you know who is who before you start casting aspersions and insulting people." Caric told him in no uncertain terms.

"I will. I beg you, please accept my apologies, all of you. I would never have behaved like this had I..."

"Had you known who I was, I know, but you would still have behaved like that with the others, of that I have no doubt." Caric was not going to let him off so lightly.

"No, I would not have!" Amaruvdor exclaimed, highly offended at the idea.

"You really believe that, don't you?" Caric was astonished.

Amaruvdor did not deign to answer that question.

"You may stay, but on one very important condition." Caric did not feel he could send the man out into the night when there still were orcs about.

"What is that?" There was sudden hope in Amaruvdor's eyes.

"You will apologise fully to all those you have been rude to or insulted. Then maybe Gytha will treat your bruises and bumps. As for you, Ivorhen, you should go back to your bed or Gytha will drug you again." Caric warned him.

Celeborn had to smother a laugh and Gytha could not help but giggle under her breath.

"I will as well." She said between giggles.

Ivorhen shot her a look that his friend and mentor, Glorfindel, would have been proud of. But Caric was right, he did need to be back in bed. He had leaped into action when he had heard Amaruvdor shout at Tiera. He could not let him get away with that.

"I will go back to bed." He turned back to Amaruvdor. "I will be watching you." He warned him.

Amaruvdor gulped. He would never again think of the elf as a pretty boy. No, he was much more than that, far more than just a handsome face.

He spent the next half-hour going all around making apologies, leaving Celeborn and Gytha for last. He even did something that surprised them. He apologised to the men who had come with him. There was amusement in their eyes when they heard him.

He then retreated to his mattress and finally his nose and eye were treated.

Ivorhen watched all this with pleasure. One could hope that the man had learned a valuable lesson.

---

The next morning they all awakened to a white, almost Yule, scene. A very late frost had turned the world back into a winter wonderland. It was just another reminder of how odd the weather had been over the past year.

Guards still stood at their posts at the ruined gates to the town. That would be changed today when some temporary gates were erected. The metal gates would then be remade and erected. This time they would be made just as Caric had wanted them and no money would be spared. He had vowed that Bree would not be breeched so easily again.

Inside the Town Hall infirmary, the patients were also waking. Tiera had been restless for most of the night. Her nasty dreams of the monsters made her very fretful. Nothing either Bethany or Ivorhen did would settle her down for some time after a dream. They could only hope the memories would recede eventually.

Bethany was feeding her son, Erwan, his morning meal and yawning greatly when Celeborn invited her over to talk. She just transferred herself and the babe to his bedside with an ease that came from being a mother who was used to juggling things, even though she had also been injured.

"You wish to speak with me, My Lord?"

"Indeed, Bethany. I hear that you are a seer?"

"I am. I have been warning Cadeyrn for months that this attack was coming. He would not listen." She sounded aggrieved and highly frustrated.

"There is a good reason why he ignored your warnings. He has been planning this attack for some time, but that is not what I wanted to talk to you about." Celeborn had given this a lot of thought, ever since Gytha had told him what had happened.

"What is it?" She sounded worried.

"There is nothing to worry about. I just wanted to speak to you about Tiera."

Bethany gave him a bright relieved smile. "She is a sweet child isn't she? I love watching her with Ivorhen. He is good with children. Does he have any?"

"No, he does not. Have you any idea as to whether or not Tiera follows after you with your talent?" He was aware that she did not know about Tiera's vision.

"Not yet, she is far too young, the visions do not normally start until we enter our teenage years. She has many years to go before then. I was fifteen before I had my first vision." Bethany was not in a hurry to end her only daughter's childhood.

"Then you will not be happy to know that, while you were missing, Tiera had her first vision." Celeborn did not quite know how to tell her. Simple honesty seemed best.

"She hasn't!" Bethany looked shocked.

"Yes, she has, and it mirrored one that my bonded has been having." Celeborn told her.

"Bonded?" Bethany had no idea what he was talking about.

"His wife." Gytha told her as she passed by.

"Your wife is a seer?" Bethany could not quiet believe what she was hearing.

"Yes, as is my daughter's husband." Celeborn told her.

"How do they cope? You say Tiera had the same dream?" She sounded greatly worried for her daughter.

"We have a strengthening drink called Miruvor that they take after each vision and then they drink sweetened tea. We have found it is the best way to quickly recover from the stresses that the body goes through during a vision. I will leave some for you. If it helps you, let Caric know and either Elrond or I will arrange to have some sent to you." Celeborn was quite willing to help another who had no choice in enduring the visions like the ones that plagued his wife.

"Thank you, My Lord." Bethany looked at him with wonder.

"It is just Celeborn. There is no need for formality." Celeborn chided her with a gentle smile.

"Celeborn, I can't thank you enough." Bethany had never met an elf personally before. She had seen them from afar but never this close and certainly had not spoken to one before.

"You are most welcome. Now, how will you cope with Tiera?"

"I want her to have a proper childhood. It will be hard enough for her later without having to lose what little innocence and fun there is to be had in these times. Especially with..." She shivered and turned in the direction of the dark lands of Mordor. Many hesitated to name those lands, as if in fear of waking some threat.

"You feel it?" He peered sharply at her. Her talent must be strong. Few Edain were so sensitive in their perceptions.

"Feel it and see it. It haunts my dreams at times, all my dreams. I see a large red eye, and then I see a dark shadow growing over the land. It scares me." Her voice was distant.

"You would be a fool not to be frightened, for Evil rears it head once more. We elves can all feel it, in the trees and the cold wind. Much that is wrong in this world is because of that. Sauron is returning. His orcs are growing in number. His fell creatures haunt this land once more." Celeborn told her.

"No! Sauron is dead, he died. Isildur..."

"Betrayed us all and kept the One Ring, Sauron was always going to return because, though it is lost, the ring was not destroyed." They had known that right from the start.

"We are doomed!" Bethany clutched Erwan to her and looked at him with frightened eyes.

"No, Evil may be rising, but it has not beaten us yet. There is always hope, right up until the very last minute, there is always hope." Celeborn was serious.

"Hope, yes. I want Tiera to grow up with laughter and friends and not in fear and suspicion. That really can happen. I had so many friends turn away from me when my gift first made itself known. That hurt so much." A single tear ran down her face at the old pain. "I do not want that for Tiera."

"I understand, Bethany, and I promise that Galadriel and Elrond will help you both as much as possible. It may be that you can both come and spend some time with us. Galadriel would love to see Tiera."

"I would like that. I have always wondered what an elven home would be like. Tiera will love it, if her love of Ivorhen is anything to go by." She looked over to where her daughter was giggling with Ivorhen as he tried to 'encourage' her to eat her morning meal.

"They make quite a pair, do they not? I have not seen Ivorhen this relaxed for a long time, a very long time. She is good for him." Celeborn admitted with a wistful smile. While they had no such problems as the ones the Mirkwood elves faced, the growing darkness was affecting them all.

"Then I am glad that he is here with her. I will give your words some thought, Celeborn. Again, I thank you." She gave him a watery smile. "I had better get this little one clean." She turned to leave and then stopped and turned back to him. "I have been having some unusual dreams, dreams I have no meaning for."

"What is that, Penneth?"

"I am in a sunny clearing, as if it is a new day just beginning. I see dew sparkling on a crisp new web. In the background I can hear happy laughter, a child's laughter. I have been having this dream for some time. It puzzles me, though it does my heart good to hear the laughter." She shrugged then turned and limped away.

Celeborn watched her go, a thoughtful look on his face. He had no doubt that this and Galadriel's dreams were linked. The Valar moved in the most mysterious of ways.

"You seem puzzled, old friend." Caric looked up from the papers he and Wolraven had been looking at.

"Not puzzled, more worried. It is nothing. When I understand it I will explain. What is that you are looking at?" He looked over at them.

"The old plans for our new gates, they were in the baskets from last night." Caric told him. Soon they were caught up in discussions as to how best it would be to re-build and protect Bree.

---

"My Elf?"

"Yes, penneth?" Ivorhen had not said anything, but resting in bed was for once one of the best things he could have done. Last night's little altercation with Amaruvdor had brought that home. He had felt weak and shaky since. He had experienced head injuries before, but none had ever affected him like this.

"You better?" She had a piece of charcoal clutched in her fist over a piece of parchment, the charcoal was everywhere other than on the parchment but she was having fun and that was what counted.

"I am, Tiera, much better." He was meant to be teaching her how to count to ten.

"Good, dere!" She showed him her effort.

"Very good. Now that you have finished with naught can you try one? Just like this." He picked up his piece of charcoal and showed her how to do the number.

Tiera then bent over the parchment, her tongue sticking out of her mouth as she concentrated.

He could only watch her with wonder. He had never felt this protective over a child before. When had woken to hear that hateful voice shouting at her, his blood had fairly boiled. How could he talk to a young child like that? He could not let it go.

Maybe one day he would have a child of his own. How he would love to spend the evening like this with an elfling on his lap. But then, of course, he would have to find an elleth with which to bond before that could happen. So far with that he had not had any luck.

"Dere." She sounded so happy that he could not help but tickle her. Bethany joined in with her daughter's giggles. Everyone around had wide smiles on their face as Tiera's giggles were more than a little infectious.

---

The late spring sun was warm as it cast its warm glow over Fornost. It was late afternoon and most of the day's work was finished. Weary men wound their way home to equally weary women. Children still played but it was with a half-hearted effort that told of their own weariness.

Birds still flew lazily in the sky and soon all would be indoors and in the safety of their own homes. The night still came early and with the growing numbers of orcs about it was not wise to have anyone outside after dark, not even in a large town like Fornost. You just could never take anything for granted.

Orophin hurried through the town on his errand. He and Lady Galadriel had been taking a walk. It had done them both good to be outside now that Nana was feeling better.

They had left just after the noonday meal. It had been good to get away from Lady Banwen's mothering. Nothing had changed with that. She still tried to overfeed them all, still tried to tuck them in at night, even his Naneth!

It was good to see his Nana laughing with a pink tinge to her cheeks as they joked over something trivial or she sat sewing in the sunshine. He liked seeing his Nana like that. It was rare enough when they were home. Now that his Ada had been contacted and they knew he was alright, he could relax as well.

He had been very worried about his Adar.

Some of the ladies of the town greeted Orophin as they passed. They elves had become a familiar sight and the people of Fornost had gotten used to seeing them around. He waved back.

Most of the people here had taken the elves that had stayed behind into their hearts, but a few had not. Every now and then they would become aware of malicious muttering behind their backs. The elves chose to ignore it. They were above such petty feelings.

It had not felt right leaving Nana with the others. Oh he trusted the others with his life, but it still did not feel right. Equally, she had wanted to get this news to Lady Banwen and Lord Bainen as soon as possible, they too had been worried when they had heard of the attack on Bree. She had asked Orophin to take the news to them that he was safe. So here he was.

He turned the corner and ran full tilt into a small group of men lounging against a building.

"So much for the supposed grace of elves." One muttered in disgust. The others sniggered.

"I am sorry, I beg your pardon." Orophin tried to step around them and found they had moved to meet him.

The one who had spoken first mimicked Orophin, his voice high and with eyelashes fluttering. "I am sorry. I beg your pardon. He would make a good girl, don't ya think? Looks fair enough to be one. Are you a girl? Maybe we should check to make certain."

The others laughed again.

"That might be a good idea Tarlanc, and then we can put our mother's minds at rest that they won't rape them!" That caused another bout of nasty sniggering.

"I have a message for Lord Bainen that is most urgent, please step aside." The last thing that Orophin wanted was to start an incident.

"Please step aside." The adan, Tarlanc, fluttered his eyelashes again and lifted his hands to his mouth in a show of fear. Orophin found himself blushing. He could not prevent it.

"Why should we step aside?" The other bigger human asked.

"As I said, I have a message for Lord Bainen concerning his son Amaruvdor."

"Don't say his name! You are not even worthy to say his name!" He pushed Orophin, who did not even sway, in spite of his slight frame. The push had been hard as well.

That fact seemed to infuriate the men even more and before Orophin could say any more, they surrounded him. This would not have worried Orophin, normally. He could take them all, but he just did not have the time.

"Let me go and I will not tell L..."

The man behind him launched the attack. Orophin heard the sound of material rustling. He ducked and the fist caught Tarlanc square in the jaw.

That was all the excuse they needed to start on the elf with a fury that was born of anger and of their being sheer bullies. All Orophin tried to do was defend himself. He had no wish to add to the complaints against the elves by hurting these men. That was ultimately why they were able to overpower him, he was too careful.

By the time the fight was finished and the men walked away, Orophin lay unconscious on the ground in an ever-expanding pool of blood.

---

To be continued.

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