CHAPTER 5

His first awareness was of people shouting and for a moment Elrond thought he was back on the battlefield. Then the words began to make sense, especially when accompanied by a faint rocking and bumping sensation.

"Make fast the bowline . . . Bring up the gangplank . . . Ready the injured."

A quiet voice closer to his ear. "Lord Elrond is awakening, Glinkuil." Followed by a now familiar one.

"Stubborn warrior. He should not be rousing for several hours but he fights for control."

A cool and feather-light hand settled upon Elrond's brow and he fought to bring words from lips that were too lax to form them. "'Tis my body."

His reward was a light chuckle. "Aye, it is indeed. But your body needs rest if it is to remain your body. Now, go back to sleep."

The words were accompanied by a light mental nudge that Elrond would usually be able to turn aside with little effort, but he found the world sliding away from him as he sank back beneath the waves of Glinkuil's drugs.

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" . . . waking again."

"No matter. We have the pavilion ready and Glinkuil is waiting," came Glorfindel's calm reply. Then the voice was closer . . . words whispered in his ear. "Elrond Peredhil, I sometimes wonder why I bothered trying to save your life. You would probably have managed on your own."

Elrond wanted to make retort but he was suddenly jostled and pain flared, making him gasp instead.

"Gently there!" Glorfindel called and the movement evened out once more, almost like the rocking of a cradle. It was enough to tip him back into sleep.

"In here . . . "

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Elrond leaned into Glorfindel's support gratefully as Glinkuil unwound the swathes of soft bandages and gently peeled away the dressings over the long wound. Elrond suspected the other healer was long practised in his art, for none but another of his craft would have noticed the slight frown that flitted across Glinkuil's face as he bent a little closer to examine the long cut where it glanced across the base of Elrond's sternum.

Drawing a deeper breath, Elrond glanced down to see the reason for Glinkuil's concern. The breath told him much, before his eyes confirmed it, for there was a sharp pull against the stitches there and a sensitive elven nose easily detected the sweet, sickly smell of infection.

Aware that there was little point in trying to hide matters from his charge, Glinkuil pressed gentle fingers to the reddened area, tutting when a bubble of thin yellow pus slid from between his so carefully placed stitches.

"It is as I feared. The infection has returned. We should have let you rest for longer before bringing you across the river. I judged matters badly."

Elrond shook his head, feeling as though he were doing so in a barrel of molasses. "You made the best decision you could with the information you had. Do not blame yourself."

Glinkuil nodded. "Still, I would wish I had chosen otherwise. But now we must deal with the consequences. The stitches will have to be released and the wound cleansed to prevent any further spread." He laid a fresh dressing over the length of the wound but did not bandage it in place, helping Glorfindel to settle their charge back into his pillows.

Strangely detached, Elrond watched the healer mix tinctures for pain relief and sedation in the now familiar small silver cup. It took no persuasion for Elrond to accept the medicine. Both healer and charge knew that it would be best if Elrond slept through this particular procedure.

Glorfindel took up his customary station at Elrond's side but his friend made to wave him away. "Go and get some fresh air, Fin. This will not be pleasant."

His reply was a firm shake of the golden head. "I am not leaving. Anyway, Glinkuil may need an extra pair of hands."

"If your hands are coming anywhere near my needlework I want them clean, my lord Glorfindel." Glinkuil nodded over his shoulder to where an apprentice had just set a basin of warm water, with towels and soap.

With a flick of his brow at Elrond and a wry grin, Glorfindel moved to obey. "Yes, indeed, My Lord of the Pavilion."

Elrond watched as the apprentice tried unsuccessfully to swallow a laugh and Glinkuil bent lower over his work of unwrapping and laying out his surgical kit.

For several minutes more there were only the sounds of preparation within the tent. The clink of metal and glass sang counterpoint to the slosh of water and the smell of herbs, lulling Elrond with their familiarity. He could feel Glinkuil's tinctures wrapping themselves gently but firmly about his body and mind, guiding him slowly into a deep sleep that held no room for grief or pain.

The world dissolved into a grey mist that enfolded him in cool softness and he laid his head in the lap of a silver-haired maiden with eyes the colour of a spring sky.

TBC

REVIEWERS

Elrond Lover - Thank you for the compliment on my writing. I too wish that Tolkien had given us more of Elrond's story.

Meril - I tried to give an explanation. I'm not sure how good it is but it works for the purposes of this story.

Emma - I'm very glad you like my writing style. It's always nice to know that it is recogniseable.

Arialas - The fun thing about Elrond is that we can fill in the very large gaps Tolkien left in his story.

AliceEvans - Glad you love it. Thanks for letting me know.

Light - Lol. Sounds like you know more about the scene than I do. But I'm very glad you're reading.

Khalil - Thanks for the headsup on the K. I was using the Elendor rp site translator but only to string together word parts. I hadn't gone as deeply as to check grammar etc. I'll stick with the K for this tale as I don't want to confuse anyone with a name change.

Lovethosehobbits - Hello there! Thanks for dropping in.

Peleus 15 - I think I'm happy that I made you cry.

Shirebound - Sometimes we need space and sometimes we need hugs.