The woman looked up and said "I am very tired now, I wish to retire. Thank you for your time Doctor. Please come again soon."
Ronald bolted to his feet as she stood and mumbled " Uh yeah sure, of course I'll see you tomorrow okay?"
She nodded and as they walked to the doors he could see that the mood of her story, for truly it was her story, had affected her spirit even now. He laid a hand on her arm and said "My Lady, ( for it did not seem right to call her Aeroniel now) is there anything that I can bring to make you more comfortable?"
She smiled that sad smile and said " If you could bring a few new seeds for the garden I would be content."
She touched his cheek as a mother would her son affectionately and said, "You are so like my son." and was gone.
He hurried to his office and met Dr. Rimbolt there. The other doctor was seated in his leather chair and fiddling with a pencil that he tried to balance on the end of his fat nose.
"Ahem, uh Dick what are you doing in my office?" he asked as he went to put Aeroniel's file in the cabinet.
"What! Oh it's you Ronny old boy, I was just waiting to see how you and that broad in ward 31 were getting' along" the man wheezed as he stood.
"Look Dick, I really don't care for you to refer to the patients that way. Besides I am pretty sure this Lady is perfectly sane, she just get lost in a foreign country and was reacting in fear."
It was the only way he could think to explain her behavior when she was found, and the fact that she spoke only Quendi for the first week she was there. Dick held up his pudgy hands to ward off the comments.
"Easy Ronny boy, it was just a joke. Man! You need to learn to tell a joke when you hear it. Maybe you need some time off?"
"What I need is my office without you in it, okay Dick. I've had a long day and need some time to fill out these forms before I head home so if you don't mind?" he gestured to the door.
"Geez, some people" Richard Rimbolt said and wandered out to the nurses deck to see if any of them wanted to hear his latest joke.
After he left Ron tried to concentrate on the papers that littered his deck, the words jumbled together and didn't make any sense. Finally he pushed them away and propped his elbows on the deck and rubbed his forehead as if trying to clear his thoughts.
Was he going to totally believe her story? It was far fetched and he was used to dealing with the world of reference that patients used, but this? Had she actually lived in a world where elves lived, not only that but the elves of middle earth?
He searched his drawers and yanked the phone book from the bottom one. After riffling through the pages for a while he found the number he wanted. Dialing it he leant back in his chair and listened to the electronic ring.
"Yeah. Hello.." the sound of a phone dropping and someone swearing in elvish filled the Ron's ear.
"Hel.., Hello?" a groggy voice said
"Bill, this is Ron I need a favor."
"Oh! Hey, Ron what's up dude?"
"Do you still have a copy of the Silmarillion?"
"Yeah sure, what do you need it for?"
"I thought I would brush up on my reading. It's been ages since I've picked one of those books up and I just thought…"
"Dude are you finally enlightened to the truth of Tolkien's works?"
Ron rolled his eyes and said "No, I just wondered if I could borrow your copy for a few days?"
"Dude if you are searching you don't have to make up any stories to get my book. I'll drop by your apartment on my way to work tonight 'kay?"
"Thanks a lot Bill, and Bill?"
"Yeah?"
"Get some sleep."
"Right on dude!"
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"Aeroniel! Your feet are dragging again. Pick them up fully and set them down gently. No, don't slap them down like a paddle!"
This afternoon the comments of lady Bethriel came more often and with more sharpness than normal. Perhaps because Aeroniel wasn't really trying and this galled the lady even more then incorrect walking did. If you knew the proper way to do something you should always do it, no matter what you "felt" like doing.
Aeroniel silently obeyed and her step was light and quiet on the stone floor. The swish of her short frock was the only sound in the room. The dress was short because of the fact that she couldn't get around at all in the full length gowns that everyone else wore. The material was thin and even in the bright sunlight that streamed through the windows, she shivered from time to time. The lady either ignored this or didn't notice.
Unseen by both women Fingon came in and watched as she paced and the lady called out instructions.
As she neared the end where he stood he stepped back into the shadows and amusedly watched as she struggled to match all the movements of the graceful lady guiding her. But he also saw the pallor of her usually tanned skin, the weary droop of her head that normally was raised in so proud a fashion.
"Her spirit is broken." he thought as he watched her. She was becoming more graceful though under the tutelage of the Lady Bethriel. Too much study and not enough real companionship makes for an unhappy life, and he felt responsible for the girl's listless so he strode forward and bowed to the two.
"My Lady, I have come to steal away your pupil and take her for a long ride around the grounds. If that is agreeable to her?" he asked inclining his head to Aeroniel. He left a bubble of laughter build in his chest as he saw her reaction to his invitation, her eyes sparkled and she clasped her sash hopefully.
Aeroniel looked hopefully at the Lady who nodded in consent. And just as Aeroniel was about to race away to get ready she remembered, slow and steady, "A tray of crystal on your head" and so she glided out of the room.
"She is improving everyday my Lord, I have hopes for her yet." commented the Lady as they paced the room together.
"Good, I never doubted her ability to do well under proper teaching." smiled Fingon, However, I have only one thing to say Lady Bethriel, please see that she spends enough time in the gardens and riding."
"If you wish it, I could arrange daily lessons with the gardener so she may learn to tend flowers and trees. I will speak to Erynion about it tomorrow."
"Thank you Bethriel, now I must away to find Aeroniel before she leaves without me." He bowed again and was gone. There was an odd little bounce in his step, Lady Bethriel noted. Fingon was not given to this carefree attitude, or at least he had not been for hundreds of years. This sudden propensity to lighthearted frolics in relation to a human girl worried Bethriel.
But being the perfect Housekeeper she went about her duties certain that when the time came she would be ready to face anything.
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Aeroniel walked as quickly to her room as she could without running out right. The prince had returned, and he was freeing her to the outside world! She reached her tiny room in record time and pulled her cloak from its peg and gratefully pulled its warm folds around her shoulders.
She replaced her light house slippers for her garden boots made for outside use, and ran down to the stables to meet Maehsos and Fingon with the horses.
The horses were without saddles, but for her mare, or rather the mare she rode. It had a type of blanket it on it in saddle fashion and reminded her that she couldn't communicate with the animal the way her elven friends could. This afternoon she didn't care because she was out in the sun and fresh air! The air had a sharp snap to it that heralded the coming of autumn. But the birds were singing and nothing was about to dampen her delight in the outing. She looked around to the bustle of the yard as pages and elves of the guard worked in the courtyard. What a glorious day for a ride!
The steeds of Fingon and Maehsos were exquisite creatures pure black and radiant chestnut, they pranced in impatience to be out in the soft grass and fields of the estate. Maehsos swung Aeroniel onto the dozy mare of a dabbled brown and white. "I hope that someday I'll ride a normal steed instead of this, cow-horse." she said. Fingon chuckled and said, "I know that it seems trying at times but she's a good horse to learn with."
"You mean she's dozy and lazy with no desire to bolt or even gallop, right?" Laughed Aeroniel.
"You are glad to get out I see, I am sorry that I haven't been to see you in a few weeks but the affairs of state keep me busy." said Fingon, "Now that I see what a splendid effect the out of doors has on your temper well, we will do this more often."
He held the head of Aeroniel's horse. He stroked its head and whispered soft words in elvish to it. Aeroniel could hear that he was telling her (the mare) to go slowly and be mindful of the inexperience of the rider.
He gave the mare a final pat and mounted his own horse, beside Maehsos on the black stallion. The estate was beautiful, the rolling hills that were the backdrop for the white beach and brilliant aquamarine ocean. The fields were vast and heavy with the harvest of the late summer, it had been four months since Aeroniel, than Anna, had been plucked out of the lake. Aeroniel breathed deeply in the tangy air and allowed her head to fall back and the sun to bathe her face in the warm rays of the summer day.
She had learned of the Valier named Yavanna who loved green and growing things and how she made the plants sleep till proper light could cause them to grow. And of the light of the two trees, what was that like? Today was so beautiful surely nothing could as gorgeous.
Maehsos watched her out of the corner of his eye keeping his horse just a little behind always. She was happier and in the full light of day he could see just how pale her skin had become. He would see that when Fingon was gone she would still get out more.
" So, Fingon how long do you think to be gone this time?" he asked
The girl looked to him sharply "Are you going away?" she asked anxiously.
Fingon didn't answer right away, but shot Maehsos a look that meant he shouldn't have said anything.
"Yes, unfortunately my brother has need of me and so I go to him for a time."
"For long?" was her next question.
"I am not yet sure Aeroniel, I hope not to be gone for more than a year or more."
"A year or more! That's ages, at least for me! Why do you have to be gone for so long?"
Maehsos shook his head at her outburst, she simply could no understand the responsibility of the prince. Even now she was arguing about why Fingon was going.
"He's a kind of king right? I mean you don't get to be a king if you don't know how to run a kingdom do you? Why must he have your help?"
Fingon turned his stallion to block the path of the mare and said "Anna, you must remember that I am more than just your caretaker, I have the duty to my family and those that serve me to be available to them in time of need. You must learn that I cannot cater to your wishes simply because you live here."
She flinched when he used her Edain name and listened in defiant silence. She was not trying in anyway to understand and he knew it. He turned away in disgust and urged his horses on into a canter that he knew she could not match. She rode in silence and Maehsos came up beside her.
"You can be a spoiled brat when you wish to be Aeroniel, you must apologize. You cannot blame the prince for doing his duty. He had this burden long before you were born and will have it for the rest of his life." Maehsos reproved.
"Sorry, but two years? He's supposed to get care of me! I don't want to be under the sole care of stone-cold-Lady-Bethriel for the next age. I… I'll miss him."
"That is a weak excuse for being so rude, and I insist that you go and beg pardon immediately or our music sessions will cease. I have no wish to train a student if she is going act like a spoiled child every time something happens she dislikes."
And with that he also rode ahead of her, leaving her to face the fact that she had behaved very badly indeed and need to do something about it. She bit her lower lip and considered the two elves that rode in close formation before of her.
Their backs straight and they rode tall and proudly, and the light glinted off the golden cord that bound Fingon's hair. He wore a small circlet of the precious metal on his brow always and it trailed into his braids in the form of golden rope. The contrast of the jet black and gold was pleasing to see, she had never thought of why he wore it so. His bearing had always been noble and majestic, and never had he seemed condescending toward her.
She rode silently down the rock hemmed path, and now began to feel ashamed of her conduct, he was a prince of his people and she had made him no more than nursemaid for herself. It was exactly the sort of thing that made Lady Bethriel look down on the Edain. She could kick herself all the way back to the castle for being so, so human!
Just than she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand and she got the distinct impression she was being watched. She looked ahead and saw the two elves had gotten ahead by 30 or 40 yards. She urged her mare on but the pokey animal just plodded on in the usual way.
At that moment something whistled by her face and embedded itself deep into a tree by the path! It was a black dart! She looked from where it had come in time to see the most hideous creature issue forth from the woods on that side of the path!
"Maehsos! Fingon!"
They whirled their horses and raced to her side, Maehsos swept her off of her horse and onto his own.
"Orcs!" shouted Maehsos as he drew her behind a boulder in the path. "Stay here, and don't come out until one of us comes for you!"
He rode back to where Fingon was battling with the things. They were a small number but fierce and crazed at the thought that they had taken the prince unaware. A huge brown spider was pulled forward by one of the orcs and they worked to push out to the elves.
"Fingon the spider watch it! It's one of Ungloant's evil spawn!"
"I see it! Come to me you foul creatures. Thralls of Morgoth let my blade welcome you!"
Fingon and Maehsos fought fearlessly the onslaught of the orcs, their swords bit and slashed through the reeking flesh of the demons; and the weak armor the orcs wore was no match for the strength with which the elves wielded their blades.
The orcs soon saw that they were out numbered and fled through the gloom of the gathering duck in the woods. However the guards they snuck by earlier found them and in a hail of long arrows they were struck down. But the spider was forgotten in the immediate moment.
As Maehsos went to meet the guard and see that all the orcs were indeed dead it leapt at his throat! He knocked it to the ground and Fingon ran to aid his companion. The spider lashed at Fingon. Fingon lost his footing as a dying orc grabbed his ankle and he fell striking his right arm and sword hand against a tree. His arm broke with a snap and he fell unprotected to the path.
Maehsos leapt forward and guarded his friend twirling the long deadly blade. The sword caught the rays of pure light and shone it into the many flat black eyes of the hideous creature. The spider hissed and made a futile attempt to strike out, but being blinded by the light struck only air. Aeroniel's sat frozen in fear, her eyes flashing from the brown thing to Maehsos, to the struggling figure of Fingon.
He had pulled himself up to one knee, his right arm hung uselessly at his side. He stood breathing heavily and grasped his fallen sword with his whole left arm. The two elves circled the spider and Aeroniel resisted the urge scream . She was afraid as the creature was as big as a germen sheppard!
The corner creature was beginning to realize it's doom and so in a last ditch attempt to kill, it sprung up at Maehsos. The flash of metal and scream of pain from the beast and the elf caused Aeroniel to throw caution to the wind. She ran forward to see the spider twitch once and die. A large gash in it's abdomen was gushing forth black blood onto the green grass that withered at the touch.
Maehsos lay gasping in pain on the ground as Fingon, setting his stained sword set aside bent over him.
An ugly bit mark graced his unguarded neck, the pale skin was red as black venom could be seen in infecting his throat.
"Maehsos!" Fingon called shaking him gently but with an urgency that Aeroniel had never heard in his voice before.
Maehsos eyes opened as he fought for breath. "I am …I…its working fast….I.." He gave another gasp and went limp in Fingon's arms. Fingon looked to Aeroniel and said "You must run to the castle for help as quickly as you can or he will die."
"But I can't ride worth beans!" she wailed, tears ran down her face as she looked at Maehsos.
Fingon took her hand and said, "I cannot ride and support him at the same time. My arm is fractured. I will get him along as fast as I can with the guards help, but you must go ahead to have them meet us with healers! Please Meldanya."
He whistled to the black stallion that still lingered close to his wounded master. It came close careful to avoid the carcass of the spider. Fingon laid a hand on its head and beckoned the girl close.
"Please trust me and go Aeroniel, the horse will be gentle just hold to the mane as tightly as you can."
She looked into the brown eyes of the stallion and to the grey eyes of the prince glistening in pain. She nodded and pulled herself onto its back with a little boost from Fingon. She twined her fingers in the silky mane and with a look and word from Fingon they were gone.
The wind shrieked in her ears as they sped over the fields to the house, she gripped the flanks of the horse with her legs and buried her face against its huge shoulder. The pounding of the hooves was dulled by the soft earth, but the jolt of very stride shook her frame.
As they neared the house a few servants who had seen her approach, came running out to meet her. One grabbed the horse bridle and she said. "Hurry the steward and prince Fingon are hurt! We were attacked by orcs and a spider and it has bitten the Lord Maehsos!"
"Where are they?" cried one as fresh horses were lead out and other went for healers.
"On the straight rock path to the south."
"Is the beast still living?" asked another.
"No, the prince killed it, but hurry they are both hurt and the steward near death!"
She leapt off the stallion and it was taken by one of the Princes men as they poured out of the courtyard. Left standing alone she finally remembered that the lady should know to prepare for the return of the men.
She raced into the castle and slammed full force into the Lady. She grabbed the girl and breathlessly asked "What kind of beast was it child, tell me quick so we can prepare the proper remedy for it!"
"It…was a brown sp…spider! It was huge and brown and it bit his neck and I think he's going to die!" she sobbed, hysterical.
"Did it have any yellow markings?" the Lady gave the girl a little slap to calm her.
" N..No it was just plain brown but so horrible!
The lady turned to the waiting healers and said "It sounds serious, but at least it is not the most powerful of poisons; he would be dead by now if it were so. However we must prepare for the worst. Erynion! go to the ground and bring me some of the silver root."
The male elf nodded and as off, Aeroniel followed she had to do something. The elf saw and held out a plant and told her to look for more of the same. They gathered a huge bunch and some other herbs as well.
Then there was a great commotion at the gate as the wounded elves were brought in. Fingon rode in of himself, but his arm was in a crude sling. The limp body of Maehsos was supported by one of the Hithlumdrim. He was gently handed down and borne away to the house. Fingon followed close in his wake and Aeroniel hurried in with the elf with the herbs.
She was not permitted to enter the sick room, but she watched from the door way as the puncture was bathed and the veins showed an angry red as the poison worked it's way through Maehsos's body. A poultice of some kind was applied to the wound to draw out the reeking venom of the spider. It wasn't working however as Maehsos body shook and trembled as if in the throes of some great agony.
The quiet bent heads of the healers and their despairing words reached her and she backed away in shock. Surly they knew what to do, even now the prince was having his arm set and cared for. There had to be some way for them to save the steward! She heard one of the healers say "But Erynion that plant only blooms in early spring that it is nearly autumn now!"
Erynion the elf from the garden shook his head in agreement "I realize that but we must try to find some. Get every spare hand you can into the garden now!"
Soon the garden was crawling with elves in a desperate search for the needed herb. Aeroniel was with them but she wasn't sure what she was looking for until on of the maids held aloft a tiny sprig of a green fern. But it was too little the healers declared , however they went off and made what use of it they could.
Aeroniel wandered around the garden trying to keep her mind off of what was going on up in the house. Maehsos almost assuredly would die and she would lose her close companion and teacher. She looked around more and tried to think of where a bit more of the plant might be. All she found was the root of the one that they had already plucked, she knelt beside it and lifted the surrounding plants to see if any lingering morsel was hiding under the shadow of the leaves. There was none.
She looked down at the roots and yelled "Grow you stupid plant!" and it did! It flowered and blossomed right before her eyes. The tender shoots unfurled and reached out their green fingers to the fading sun and beside it another plant came up and did the same!
A gasp escaped her lips before she grabbed the plants and got to her feet to run to the, she paused looking back and said " Thanks plant!"
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Late that night a heralding horn was blown and those of the house that were still awake rushed out to see the glowing torches and flowing banners, of King Fingolfin.
The guards pulled open the large gates and in poured the armored host of Nolder, returned from their year long visit in Doriath.
Fingon went to Fingolfin, glorious in his armor and clasped him in his arms.
"Atar, I am glad to see you, how fare the elves in Doriath?"
"Well, but I see you are injured my son. What! Climbing trees at your age?" He looked from the sling to his sons eyes and the smile faded from his eyes.
"What is it my son? Have you had news of another attack by Morgoth?"
"It is not as bad as that Atar, but a band of orcs invaded our land and the steward was nearly killed by the venom from one of the vile spiders they keep. He is well now, but we almost lost him."
"Cruse Morgoth, he is never satisfied is he?" Fingolfin's face set in grim anger. "And have you strengthened the guard on all borders?"
"Yes, of course, but Morgoth is getting bolder and seeks to work his wrath more and more by any means he can devise." Fingon said his voice grim.
Fingolfin nodded and a moment later he said. "But come, today we will not speak of it. You say the steward is still living, lead me to him. It would be good to see his face again."
The two walked together and seemed more as brothers than Father and son for they resembled each other in every way, save for the fact that Fingolfin was taller. They spoke of everything that had changed in the land since his father's absence, but of the girl Fingon said nothing yet.
They came to the stewards room and just as they went in Fingolfin asked "And have there been an additions to the household?" (meaning elflings).
Then they both stood still because by the bed was the girl. She sat on the floor her head resting against the bed clothes and clasping the pale hand of the steward in her own. She was fast asleep from weariness and fatigue. The eyes of the steward were misted over in sleep and his breathing was regular and easy.
Fingolfin raised a brow and turned question to his son. Fingon smiled and said "That is the only addition Ada, I would like you to meet my adopted daughter, Aeroniel."
The high King's eyes went to the figure of the short haired girl and back to Fingon. "She is human?"
"Yes, Ada, I will tell you of it tomorrow it is too late to begin the tale now."
"No indeed for I see she is shivering on the cold stone floor. You must be more careful of that my son. Edain are affected by the cold a great deal sooner than we and they grow sick very easily."
The King bent and lifted the skinny girl in his great arms, she sleepily wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled her face against his shoulder. He looked from her to his son and said "Lead on."
They found her little room and laid her tenderly down. Fingolfin brushed a short lock of brown hair away from her face and said, "She reminds me of Aredhel. Only this child is far too thin." They went out to the corridor and to their own chambers. Fingon walked by his father and tried to read the King's expression.
"Fingon, you never asked me if you might have a pet, you know." Fingolfin said finally.
Fingon smothered a laugh and said "Oh Please Ada may I have a human? I'll take good care of it! Please!"
The King put a hand around his son's shoulders and said "I am afraid you are still too irresponsible to have her Fingon my lad, however I will keep her and you may call her your own."
They both laughed and disappeared down the hall.