Part Nine
Elrond was startled by the worried look on his friend's face and was even more alarmed by the sudden panic that filled the room. It took the Elven Lord a few seconds for his brain to register what was actually going on about him before he understood. He jumped up rushing to Nesteron's side regardless of the fact that it was probably best for him to stay out of the way.
"Nesteron?" Elrond asked looking worriedly at the still form of the boy trying to ignore the cut in the side of his head which Nesteron had been sealing up. He had successfully removed the blood clot and there had been moments when it looked like everything was going to be fine, but nature had decided to thwart their hopes with this critical blow.
"He is not breathing," Nesteron stated the obvious tilting Elladan's head back and arching his neck slightly. Placing one hand on top of the other he pressed down on the boy's static chest counting five before breathing into the lax mouth.
Elrond could only watch in horror all of the colour draining from his face, his brain could not process the information it was being given. This wasn't happening, it couldn't be. Elladan could not stand this at the moment, they had to get him back soon or there could be serious problems. Brain damage was a frightening prospect, but what Elrond feared the most was the death of his son. It would cause a butterfly effect through out his family until he was the only one left standing on the shores of Middle Earth. At least that was the worst possible scenario, but it also seemed most likely.
"Valar no," the Elven Lord breathed heart pounding wildly in his chest. He shut his eyes and tried to calm himself silently praying to the Valar for their help. They had eluded him until now, they had let so much pain befall his family; they could at least save his son. Inside he knew that this was not the Valar's doing, he knew that it was his fault, but at the moment taking all his anger out on someone else felt far better.
Minutes passed and still nothing happened; Elladan did not take another breath and was getting worse, his lips and the skin beneath his fingernails was turning blue and his face was deathly pale. Elrond looked on helplessly as Nesteron turned to him eyes wide with worry, and sadness wondering what to say or do. Nesteron could continue on like this for hours, but he knew that unless some miracle occurred he would not be able to resuscitate the boy.
Understanding the other healers look, Elrond felt his heart break. He had seen that look before; he had given that look to others before. Nesteron was just waiting for someone else to confirm his own feelings and he was looking to Elrond for that confirmation. The Elven Lord shook his head still unable to believe that this was happening. He had seen it happen before; he had had to break the terrible news to distraught families before. But he had never thought that this could happen to him. Never thought that the family he would have to tell would be his own.
"Elrond," Nesteron said once again counting to five.
The Elven Lord shook his head. "No," he felt tears sting his eyes and bit them back. "No, no, you're wrong, he can't be... he's not..."
"Elrond he's dead," the healer stopped trying to resuscitate Elladan letting his hands fall to his sides, his eyes filled with compassion and understanding as he turned to his friend. "I'm sorry."
Elrond closed his eyes his brows knitted; he placed a hand over his eyes hiding his tears from the other elves in the room trying to comprehend what he had just been told. He swallowed hard looking up and blinking rapidly to subdue the tears that he was trying to convince himself were not there. His son was not dead, he couldn't be.
The Elven Lord moved forwards suddenly an idea springing to mind. He would not let his son go yet, not if he could help it. Nesteron and the other healers in the room watched in fascination as Elrond placed one hand on the boy's forehead and another over his heart, closing his eyes in concentration. The intensity of Elrond's elven glow grew suddenly, shining brightly about him and compensating for the loss of Elladan's own ethereal light. The other worldly light of the Elven Lord's faer poured into his son. Now it was up to Elrond, only he had the power to bring his son back to the world of the living. He could save Elladan still, whilst there was hope.
The other's watched amazed, this was the miracle they needed. Nesteron was worried for his Lord wondering how much of his faer he could pass on to Elladan before his will gave out or he seriously damaged his own being. The healer dared not do anything though, Elrond would never forgive him if Nesteron broke his concentration and lost him his only chance at saving Elladan.
The doors to the room opened suddenly and Nesteron turned to see Glorfindel standing there eyes filled with darting frantically about the room. The golden haired elf crossed the room quickly to Nesteron his eyes fixed on Elrond. No one tried to stop the Balrog Slayer as he entered they were still transfixed by the scene before them.
"What is happening?" Glorfindel asked his voice quiet so as not to disturb the silence of the room. From the way the elder elf's voice hitched slightly Nesteron could tell that he had been running and had only just regained regular breathing.
"Elladan went into cardiac arrest," Nesteron stated watching Elrond. "I believe Elrond is saving him." In truth Nesteron had no idea what was actually happening, but he knew somehow that the survival of Elladan now depended wholly on Elrond's spirit. "Is something wrong?" Nesteron asked finding the time to tear his gaze away from Elrond to look at Glorfindel's worried face.
"Elrohir collapsed," Glorfindel said softly. "We decided that it had to have something to do with Elladan."
"We?"
"Celebrían is with Elrohir now," Glorfindel explained his voice barely a whisper. "He is fine, I just... I just hope Elladan is also."
"We will soon see I think," Nesteron said once again transfixed by the scene in the center of the room. Elladan's life rested in the balance, rested in his father's healing hands.
Elrond was totally oblivious to what was going on around him his mind and soul set on saving his son from Mandos' Halls. Elladan would not leave him where he could not follow. He knew that now he risked loosing part of his son, he knew Elladan's mind could already be damaged beyond repair, but he didn't care, he had to save the boy's life.
The Elven Lord poured his faer into the boy strengthening what little life there was left in Elladan's soul infusing it with his own will, pulling the youth back from the edge of oblivion. It was easier when there was something to drive out of a spirit when there was a darkness to fight against and push away. Now it was harder he had to hang onto what was left of his son and slowly draw him back, an impossible task when Elladan's faer was undecided on whether it should stay or flee. Elrond knew that his son would never intentionally leave and he also knew that it was the boy's willpower that had kept him going on this long, but the pull of Mandos' Halls was a strong one and almost impossible to defeat. One moment it looked like Elrond would succeed and the next his son seemed to be slipping from his grasp. It was like trying to hold a fish in his bare hands his son's faer continued to elude him, shying away from both darkness and light, caught in limbo.
Slowly but surely Elrond's strength was waning being sapped from him by the intensity of these moments - although whether it was moments he could no longer tell, every second seemed like a life age. Consciousness was fleeing the Elven Lord rapidly and Elrond knew that he did not have long before he passed out. If he did his son may be lost to him forever.
Gathering what power he had left in a final desperate attempt Elrond poured what remaining strength he could into his son. His head swam suddenly, exhaustion overcame the peredhil and his hands slipped from where they rested as he collapsed back onto the floor unconsciousness claiming him before he even hit the ground.
"Elrond!" Glorfindel exclaimed rushing to the Elven Lord's side as Nesteron checked Elladan over examining the boy carefully. Glorfindel looked up at the healer questioningly praying that his friend's efforts had not been in vain. "Well?"
A broad smile spread across the healer's face. Although they were not quite out of the woods yet Nesteron was certain that the worst was over. "He lives."
:o:O:o:
His mother was holding him close, rocking him gently, trying desperately to calm him down, but Elrohir couldn't stop the floods of tears pouring down his cheeks. He had come round a long while later to find himself lying in bed, his mother sleeping next to him. Celebrían had woken quickly when she had heard her son crying and occupied her troubled mind with trying to calm Elrohir down. Glorfindel had left shortly after Elrohir blacked out to find out what had actually happened and still he had not returned. Celebrían could not thank the Balrog Slayer enough for everything he had done for them in the past few days; there really was no way to repay him.
The fact that Glorfindel had not returned troubled Celebrían greatly, if Elladan had survived why had Glorfindel not returned? It made no sense, she could understand why he had not come back if Elladan had died, but wouldn't he have at least sent someone to tell her? He would not forget her like this would he?
Not knowing had to be the worst thing in the world, not knowing and just waiting. Elrohir's choked sobs redirected her attention and she pushed her own thoughts aside kissing the boy gently on the temple pulling him close. If Elladan was gone she was not going to loose her other son as well, but despair filled her heart as she held the distraught child, knowing somehow that if Elladan was dead Elrohir would die too. She clung to that 'if' for all it was worth, hoping beyond hope that Elladan was alright. He had to be, he just had to.
"Ssh Elrohir, it is alright," she cooed stroking his hear gently trying to calm him down. These last few hours had taken their toll on both of them and Celebrían felt light headed with exhaustion, it did not seem to matter at all that she had been sleeping. None of them could survive this much longer.
"I can't feel Elladan Nana," Elrohir whimpered. "I can't feel anything."
"I know, I know," Celebrían said softly. "It'll be alright though; we'll get through this together won't we?"
Elrohir opened his mouth to speak, but couldn't find any words and the bitter silence made Celebrían's heart break.
"Elrohir?" Celebrían caught her son's chin and titled it up so that he looked her in the eye. "Elrohir don't even think about leaving me as well do you hear me? Don't!"
Elrohir looked away and didn't say anything leaning back into his mother's embrace. "I just want to see Elladan."
"I do to ion-nín," Celebrían whispered. "I do to."
:o:O:o:
Eventually, Glorfindel returned only to find both Celebrían and Elrohir fast asleep. He leaned over the elleth gently shaking Celebrían's shoulder until she woke.
"Glorfindel?" Celebrían asked her eyes adjusting to the light in the dim room. She sat up careful not to wake Elrohir. "What has happened? Is Elladan alright?"
A smile graced the Elven Lord's features and his eyes shone brightly. Celebrían felt her heart sore, she knew Elladan was alive. She didn't need confirmation, but she waited for it anyway, just to hear that her son was alright.
"He lives Celebrían," Glorfindel could have laughed at Celebrían's expression of shock and happiness, the Elven Lady seemed to glow with joy, she had never looked so relieved. "Elrond saved him, Elladan stopped breathing, but Elrond brought him back. I'm not entirely sure how..."
Celebrían nodded in understanding, "where is Elrond now?"
"He fainted afterwards," Celebrían stiffened immediately standing, but Glorfindel caught her hand stopping her. "It's alright; he'll be fine once he wakes, a little weak maybe, but fine. He's in the healing room with Elladan; shall I take you there now?"
"Yes," Celebrían turned to Elrohir shaking him awake still extremely careful of her son's injuries.
Elrohir jerked awake. "Nana?"
"Yes Elrohir," Celebrían smiled at the confused look on her son's face. "It's alright Elrohir, Elladan's alive, and he's fine."
Elrohir's mouth hung open and he couldn't find any words, he had really expected his twin to be dead. He had felt it. A light danced in the boy's eyes as he searched inside himself, finding the connection he had with his twin.
"He's alive!" Elrohir leapt forwards hugging his mother, the force behind it nearly pushed her off the bed. Celebrían laughed and the joyous sound rung about the room hanging in the air. "Can we see him? Is he awake? Where is Ada?"
"Calm down Elrohir, you will hurt yourself," Glorfindel laughed. He looked at Celebrían smiling, "come I will take you to them."
"Them?" Elrohir looked quizzically at the elder elves as his mother pulled him to his feet.
"Your Adar saved Elladan," Glorfindel explained. "You should be very proud of him."
"I am," Elrohir grinned as they walked down the corridors towards the healing rooms. The servants watched as the three of them passed glad that everything seemed to be right again with the peredhil family.
When they entered the room where both Elladan and Elrond were sleeping Celebrían had to put a firm hand on her son's shoulder to stop him from running over to his twin.
"He may not come round yet," Celebrían warned him. "And be careful of his broken bones."
Elrohir nodded eagerly and Celebrían let go allowing the boy to race over to his brother and climb up on the bed next to him. Celebrían watched with tears of joy sliding down her cheeks not noticing that Glorfindel had slipped out of the room. Deciding to leave Elrohir alone with his twin for a while despite how much she wanted to see him. He was alive, that knowledge would do for now.
Instead she crossed the room to her husband and sat down on the edge of the bed. He looked so sweet lying there, so relaxed; she had not seen him like this in a long time. He had his eyes closed, but that was of little concern to the elleth, her husband had given a lot of his faer to help Elladan, he needed to recover his strength. Celebrían smiled inwardly as Elrond tried to kick her off him and rolled over, he was obviously enjoying his sleep.
"Hannon le meleth-nín," she whispered close to his ear, but it was enough to wake Elrond up.
He turned onto his back and blinked to clear his muggy vision. "Celebrían? W-where is Elladan?"
"He is alive you saved him meleth!" Celebrían cried leaning forwards to kiss him. "Oh I was so worried! Elrohir collapsed; I thought the worst had happened."
"Is Elrohir alright now?" Elrond asked sitting up, he looked across the room and immediately saw that Elrohir was indeed fine, in fact the boy looked better than he had in a long time.
Elrond tried to get out of the bed, but Celebrían immediately pushed him gently, but firmly back down into the pillows grinning.
"You are staying there until you are well rested," she said her eyes daring her husband to defy her.
Elrond pushed her hand away and tried to sit up again, when Celebrían pushed him back down he gave her an exasperated look. "I am fine Celebrían, honestly."
"Hypocrite," Celebrían countered quickly.
"Celebrían-"
"Elrond, if you do not lay still then I will force some of your own 'tea' into you," Celebrían said, her voice was serious, but her eyes danced with mirth as she looked at her husband.
"Oh really?" Elrond asked raising an eyebrow. "And how on earth would you propose to do that meleth-nín?"
Celebrían scowled. "You just try it Elrond peredhil."
Elrond laughed unable to keep a straight face. Celebrían lay down next to him, watching her sons' as Elrond fiddled idly with her long silver gold hair.
Thank Illuvatar for reuniting my family, Elrond thought watching as Elrohir lay down next to Elladan. The elder twin had not yet woken, but he was healing and most importantly he would live. From now on Elrond would have far much more faith in the Valar than he had ever had. It was true that his family had experienced hard times, but there was light at the end of the tunnel. Elladan was alive and Elrohir was alive and his beautiful wife was still here with him and no one had had to sail across the sea. He sighed contentedly relaxing back into the pillows as the rest of the peredhil family slipped into a peaceful sleep. Yes, thank Illuvatar for giving him his family back - not that he had ever truly lost them in the first place.
:o:O:o:
Consciousness eluded him. He could not get a firm grip on the waking world. Snatches of conversation filtered through his mind, but in his semi conscious delirium he could not comprehend the words being said, nor did he know whether they were just figments of his disorientated imagination.
In this limbo there were nightmares and his delusional mind could not discern dreams from reality. He was plagued by haunting images and every time the nightmares became too real he would shake and cry and someone would sedate him to try and calm him down. Then he was sent spiraling back into oblivion. Weakened by the drugs he was being given and pain he was unable to break the surface of the waking world.
This time the dream was far more real than it had ever been before. Orcs were chasing him, through dark woods which stretched out to snare him and tear at his clothes. He did not know where he was and he did not know his way home and he was frightened. Tears poured down his cheeks as he stumbled blindly onwards, but the world was dark and he could not understand the song of these blackened trees. The orcs were gaining on him and they caught him, tripped him up. A burning fire exploded inside and agony shot through him and then...
The most wonderful sensation started on his forehead running through him a cool tingling feeling which somehow at the same time was filled with warmth and life. Light broke through the darkness fighting back the orcs who fled from it and the feeling encompassed the elf wrapping him carefully in the calm hold.
Sweet words were being whispered in the elven tongue as someone stroked his brow lovingly driving all the hurt and pain out of him.
Finally Elladan broke through the surface of consciousness his eyes flickering open to look up at his father. Elrond smiled down at him his eyes shining with unshed tears.
"A-Ada," Elladan whispered reaching out a shaking hand to brush away a silent tear that slipped down his father's cheek. It was impossibly hard to move his hand, but he assumed that must have been just an after effect of the operation and pushed the thought aside.
Elrond gently grasped the shaking hand kissing each fingertip in turn just to remind himself that Elladan was there, that he was alive. "You frightened me for a moment there penneth."
A broad smile broke out across the younger elf's face and sunshine blossomed in his bright eyes. "I... I'm not dreaming," Elladan said his voice soft in the silent room. "I'm not d-dead."
"No you're not," Elrond laughed. "The operation was successful, Elladan you're alive." It had finally sunken in, it was finally over, and everything was back to normal. He would never forget those memories of his son lying still on the bed, and he knew that the images would haunt him forever, but it did not matter now, Elladan was alive, he would heal.
The warm morning sunlight streamed in through the open window and birds sung out in the tree tops. Elladan tried to move his head, but was surprised to find that he couldn't. He looked up at his father and Elrond caught the sudden change in mood. Elladan's expression troubled him greatly and he took his son's hand squeezing it reassuringly.
"What is wrong Elladan?" Elrond asked placing a hand on his forehead to check his temperature, pushing the sweaty raven hair out of his eyes.
"M-My head," Elladan was finding everything hard now, he had not noticed when he had first woken relieved that he was alive, but he was having problems forming the words. Problems remembering what the words were. "C-can't move it."
"It's alright Elladan," Elrond reassured him. "I feared this might happen, you suffered from hypoxia during the operation, you arrested. We thought you were going to... It doesn't matter though; the part of your brain Nesteron was working on was damaged." Elladan's face changed to one of horror and Elrond reassured his son quickly. "It is not permanent there are plenty of things we can do to treat it. Therapy for both speech and movement is the best option, you will be better in a little while."
"A little w-while?" Elladan asked worriedly his words slightly slurred.
"Yes," Elrond said now checking his son's eyes. "It varies between people, it may take six months, it may take two years, but it will go. Do you understand?"
"No," Elladan answered.
"What don't you understand?" Elrond asked slowly, maybe his son's hearing had been damaged.
"No... I... no," Elladan's forehead creased and his silver eyes looked troubled, there was a quiver of uncertainty in his voice.
"What is the matter?" Elrond asked bending down so that he was at eye level with his son.
"No... speak... A-Ada!" The last word was panicked as Elladan looked at his father confused and frightened.
"It's alright 'Dan, you're just having a little trouble with words," Elrond said giving his son a smile to comfort him. "It is something that we can work on later."
Elladan nodded, but his eyes were still frightened. "Nana."
"I will get her for you and Elrohir as well I presume. Do you mind if I leave you alone for a minute?" Elrond asked looking at his son; he was not going to leave the boy if he was still worried.
"Yes," Elladan said and his brows knitted.
Elrond caught on quickly. "Say 'no' Elladan."
"Y-Yes," Elladan felt tears of frustration sting his eyes this was terrifying, he knew what he wanted to say, but the words wouldn't come to him.
"Alright so you are fine with me going?"
"No," Elladan spoke, but there was a convincing smile to it and Elrond nodded understanding.
He stood slowly and left the room to find the remainder of his family pausing at the door to tell his son that he would be back in a minute before leaving the room.
The door burst open seconds later and Elrohir raced in jumping on him before remembering his brother's injuries and quickly pulling away from the tight embrace.
"I'm sorry did I hurt you?" Elrohir asked concerned looking at his brother as though he were a china doll.
"F-fin-e," Elladan reassured his twin pulling Elrohir into a warm embrace with his good arm.
Elrohir swallowed back tears remembering the tearing feeling when his brother had nearly been lost to him. "Don't ever do that again 'Dan," he said softly. "It really hurt," he patted his chest where his heart was, "in here, I thought I was dying."
"I-I'm n-not plannning on l-leavign 'ny tim-me sooon 'Ro," Elladan said annoyed that words were still incredibly hard to form when there was so much to say.
Elrohir's smile brightened, he was concerned about his brother's obvious speech impediment, but he was sure that his Adar could fix it, his father could do anything. The younger twin would never doubt his father's wisdom or judgment again.
"N-ana," Elladan said joyfully seeing his mother enter with Elrond behind her. Celebrían rushed over to her son tears of joy and relief already streaming down her cheeks.
"Oh Elladan I was so worried!" She pulled him close her hands trailing through his ebony hair as she kissed his forehead. She held him back to get a better view, to make sure that this truly was her son and not a dream before crushing him back into a warm embrace again. It had been nearly a day since Elrohir and Celebrían had heard the good news, but the Elven Lady had not let herself be certain until she could hold her child in her arms again and see the light in his eyes. "I love you ion-nín, oh my precious boys!" Celebrían reached out a hand to grab Elrohir as well pulling him into the hug, very a careful of both of their wounds despite her desperation to just hold them tight. "Never ever ever do something like that again, either of you. Or I'll... I'll lock you in your rooms for eternity."
Elladan laughed and Elrond walked to the other side of the bed taking a seat in one of the comfortable chairs there.
"There is something we need to discuss," Elrond said. He was sad to break up the happy moment, but knew that he should warn the other two before they noticed that there was still something with Elladan. Elrohir and Celebrían broke the embrace slightly letting Elladan rest back against the pillows. Both looked expectantly at Elrond trying to discern from his expression what he was about to say. "During the operation parts of Elladan's brain suffered from hypoxia, this damaged them slightly. The damage however, is not permanent, he is having problems with speaking and I expect that muscle movement is a problem as well. There are plenty of ways to treat this and before we know it you'll be back to normal Elladan."
Elladan smiled, he couldn't help but feel that everything was going to be alright. He was safe, he was most certainly alive and he knew that his family would help him with the obstacles that lay in his path. Together they could get through anything, no matter what.
:o:O:o:
A/N: I suppose the end of this chapter was rather sappy, but I love a good lot of fluff, who doesn't? Besides all stories need a happy ending. This, however, is not the end yet. It is the penultimate chapter and so I had to leave a little something for then didn't I? So next chapter will be very soon. I am trying to get this to hit the 100 review mark so please please review!
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