Groaning Dain dismounted from his ram the months of travel from the Iron Hills had not been kind while they had hoped to cross the misty mountain's in February when everything was frozen instead delay after delay ment they had arrived at the beginning of March just in time for the seasonal rainy season.
Limping over to his old friend Oin Dain asked, "How did the supplies fair during the trip over the mountain." Smiling slightly Oin replies, "better than us. They should be fine when we reach Thorin in the Blue mountains."
Satisfied that at least the main reason for the trip was still doing good Dain limped of to the river to collect water when he spotted a dark shape floating down the river. As the shape became clearer Dain realised that two elves where caught in the fast current of the river.
One of the elves was desperately trying to keep their heads above the water while the other hung limply in his grasp. Calling out to the guard's Dain yelled, "get some rope there are elves trapped in the river!"
Quickly the dwarves grabbed the ropes and began tying them like a giant noose. As the elves were pulled closer to them by the current they threw the ropes around them and quickly began pulling the elves in closer. Once the elves reached the bank of the river Dain began hoisting the unconscious elf out while Oin pulled the other elf out.
Quickly Dain and the other dwarf's moved the elves into the middle of the camp next to the fire. Quickly assessing the situation Oin barked, "Strip the wet cloths of them before they catch their death from a chill."
Quickly checking over the conscious elf Oin determined that besides a broken leg and a concussion he was fine. As Oin began examining the unconscious elf Dain felt as if he had seen this elf before. Shaking his head Dain winced at the tangled mess the elves long ebony back hair was in.
Glancing up at Oin he noticed that Oin was busy examining the wound's on the elf while shacking his head in sorrow. Turning from the sad sight Dain remembered how the elves had helped his cousin despite how Thror had treated them. With this in mind Dain knowing that elves took similar pride in their hair as Dwarf's began untangling the elves hair.
Untangling the elves hair was far more difficult than Dain had initial thought it would be. Like Dwarven hair there was a lot of it but instead of the thick strand's that dwarf's had each strand of the elves hair was exceptionally fine and hard to see.
To make matter's worse there was something tangled up in it making it extremely difficult to untangle. With a great deal of patience and cursing Dain removed the object from the elf's hair. Staring down at the golden circlet with swirling branches, leaves, flowers and a pale blue stone in the middle Dain groaned, "Oh Mahal" Still bandaging King Hadrian's many cut's Oin without glancing up said, "if this elf is to have any chance of survival we need to take it to elven healer's"
Cursing lowly Dain wondered how he had ended up with what could possibly start another war between elves and Dwarf's if not handled right or even if the elves beloved king died. Looking up at Oin Dain said, "we better hope he survives then cause I don't want to explain to the elves how their beloved High King is dead."
Shaking his head Oin said, "if we want to guarantee that King Hadrian lives I would take him on your ram and make all haste to Rivendale." Nodding Dain ordered that one of the Ram's be saddled up and that King Hadrian be bundled up ready for the journey to Rivendale.
Quickly hoisting the unconscious elf onto the Ram Dain puzzled at how he was going to support the limp elf as Oin had vetoed just slinging him over the saddle like a bag of wheat stating that one you can't transport a king like that and two it would aggravate Hadrian's injuries.
With some creative blanket wrapping usually used for children they were able to support Hadrian's back and neck while Dain could hold onto and peer around his waist to direct the Ram. Deciding that this was as good as it was going to get Dain kicked the ram into a fast canter like gait.
Week's past in a endless rush to Rivendale only stopping for the ram to drink and so that Dain could feed Hadrian watery stew. Fighting not to fall asleep and keep Hadrian in the saddle Dain gasped in joy at the site of Rivendale up ahead.
Racing down the bridged walkway into Rivendale Dain called out, "Help I need Help!" Quickly Lord Elrond rushed out from the private wing to see what the racket was about. Seeing the lord of the Iron hill's with either a human or elf on top of a Ram startled Elrond into action.
Rushing over to Dain Elrond was horrified to see Hadrian hanging limply in the dwarf's arm's. quickly snatching Hadrian from the Dwarf's arm's Elrond turned to Lindir and whispered, "Find out what happened to our King." Before Lindir could even open his mouth to answer Elrond had swept from the courtyard racing to the Hall's of healing.
Heart hammering in his chest Elrond raced to the hall's of healing praying to the Valar that they wouldn't give them hope only to take it away so soon. Bursting into the Hall's of Healing Elrond laid Hadrian and began desperately cutting the blankets, dwarven clothing and bloody bandages off.
Once the clothing and bandages fell away Elrond was faced with the site of many cut's and huge black, blue and purple patchwork of bruising that covered most of Hadrian's body. Taking a deep breath and pushing away the growing sense of panic Elrond slipped into Healer mode and began systematically checking for broken bones while another healer began healing the most serious cut's.
Finding no broken bones Elrond breathed a sigh of relief and began focusing on the major wound's. hour's past in a blur of healing with elven magic and elven remedies. As the sun set Elrond was pleased to say that every single wound, scrape and bruise had been healed and that the only thing left to do was get the story of what happened and wait for Hadrian to wake up.
Leaving the Healing hall's Elrond made his way to one of the smaller meeting rooms and is pleased to find Lindir, Dain and a couple of guard's present Signalling for Lindir Elrond step's out the room and once Lindir has joined him asks, "What do you know so far."
Sighing deeply Lindir tiredly reply's, "Not much except that Lord Dain was traveling to the Blue mountain's with food for Thorin and his people when they fished the king and possibly a guard out of a river and proceeded to bring the king here as quickly as possible while the rest of the company follow's behind."
Nodding his head Elrond said, "Show lord Dain to a room and have guard's watch him until his company arrives with the other elf." After bowing quickly to Elrond Lindir then turned and went back into the room. Groaning tiredly Elrond trudged up to his own room and collapsed onto his bed falling into a dreamless sleep.
A few week's past with Hadrian waking up for a couple minutes before drifting back into a healing sleep. On the third week the company of Dwarf's arrived with one of Hadrian's guard's placed on top of a cart with a crude splint stabilising his leg. Relieved that Dain's story was true Elrond allowed them to leave the next day with Lembas bread and instruction's on how to eat it.
A few week's after the Dwarf's left Hadrian while still confined to his bed was alert and awake when his company trudged into hearing that Hadrian was alive and in the Healing hall's Severus and Sirius forgetting all sence of decorum sprinted into the healing hall's.
Seeing Hadrian reading in the bed Sirius and Severus threw themselves' s at him swearing that if he did that again he would be in massive amounts of trouble. A month later Hadrian and some guards made their way to the Shire.