Disclaimer: I own nothing but the OC's and the plot, everything else belongs to Tolkien and those who currently own the rights to his work.
Chapter 35 – Only truth
Eruanna's eyes fluttered open. She felt terrible, her body ached and her limbs felt like lead. Her tired mind tried to remember why she felt like a she'd taken a fall off a cliff.
Where am I?
Eruanna struggled to lift her head and get a better look at her surroundings. She was home, in one of the healing rooms but could not recall how she'd gotten there.
"You're awake."
An oddly familiar voice drew her eyes to the far corner of the room. An ellon sat propped up by pillows, reading. His leg wrapped and cradled between two splints.
"Nessimon," Eruanna knew now why the voice didn't fit. She'd not been expecting to hear a Lórien warden addressing her in Elrond's house. Nessimon was one of Rumil's friends and a member of his border company. "Are you alright? What happened?" Concern for the warden's injuries was the first thing that sprang to her tired mind.
The warden was unable to answer her through a sudden fit of laughter.
The warden's unexpected laughter chased her concern away. "What is so funny?"
"Forgive me, my Lady." The ellon shook his head, trying desperately to restrain his humor. "I am quite well, but for my leg. I only laugh because I had not imagined you would ask after me. It is you we were all worried about. You were asleep for three days."
Eruanna fell silent; had she lost that much time? She tried to lift herself into a more erect position so she could address Nessimon properly. Her shoulder screamed in protest and she found herself once again lying flat on her back.
The warden did not miss Eruanna's pained cry. He reached for the crutches the healers provided for him. "Do not move Eruanna. Your wound will reopen if there is too much movement. I will find Lord Istuion. He has a numbing salve that works wonders."
Eruanna ventured another question before Nessimon could swing his legs off the bed. "What about the others?"
Nessimon smiled at her question. He'd been waiting for this one. "Everyone else escaped unscathed. It seems we were the only ones foolish enough to sustain injuries." As soon as the words passed his lips, Nessimon wished he could take them back.
Eruanna closed her eyes. Foolish did not begin to describe how she felt. Her thoughts flew to Glorfindel. He will be so disappointed. She could hear Nessimon moving slowly across the room. The bed beside her creaked as the warden lowered himself into a seated position.
"I did not mean to call you a fool," Nessimon said softly.
Eruanna smiled at the warden's unnecessary apology. "You called yourself a fool as well," she reminded him.
"So I did," Nessimon conceded. He looked over at the injured elleth. He'd kept his eye on her during their journey at Rumil's request. When the battle started, he tried to reach her side; it was not possible. Her skill and precision with a blade was impressive, more so than he thought possible for a female peredhel. "You fought well Eruanna," he paused, "considering…"
Eruanna would not allow him to leave that thought unfinished. "Considering what?"
Nessimon grinned before offering his answer, "Considering Rumil's alternative training techniques."
Eruanna's jaw opened slightly at the warden's indelicate joke. Rumil's clever little sweep that the twins witnessed had become a source of great amusement among the wardens. Elladan and Elrohir found it just revenge for his taking advantage of their 'little sister'.
Eruanna shot Nessimon a dangerous look, one he found quite amusing coming from the fragile looking elleth.
The humor drained from Nessimon's eyes, and his tone turned serious, "I will have to tell Rumil what happened. He will throttle me if he discovers I kept this from him."
Eruanna would not ask Nessimon to keep the events of their journey from his friend and commander. "When do you return to Lórien?"
"As soon as Lord Elrond deems me fit to travel," he answered.
Nessimon did not sound too pleased. Eruanna understood his desire to return to his home and loved ones. "Will you take a letter to Rumil for me? I don't want him to worry."
"Of course," the warden rose as gracefully as his injury would allow. "Now, I shall find Istuion."
Eruanna smiled in thanks, silently hoping the warden would find Istuion quickly. Her shoulder really did hurt.
Erestor dropped the scroll he was reading before the young healer could finish her sentence. He rushed past her into the hall and practically ran to the Healing Ward, ignoring the odd looks he received from the ellyn he passed in the halls. They were irrelevant. He reached the door and made no attempt to knock before entering.
Eruanna turned as the door to the ward swung open, "Erestor!" Eruanna smiled broadly.
Erestor's heart swelled at the sight of his child awake and smiling. He took his usual seat at her bedside. "I came as soon as I heard you were awake."
Eruanna's laughed, "Istuion told me he threw you out." The old healer informed her of Erestor's refusal to leave her side. Istuion finally grew tired of the counselor and ordered him to return to his own quarters. Erestor reluctantly obeyed, but under the sole condition that a healer inform him the moment Eruanna opened her eyes.
A sheepish grin spread across Erestor's face. "I was only trying to be helpful."
"You don't take kindly to others interfering with your work," she admonished.
"Too true," Erestor conceded. He quickly scanned Eruanna's face. She did not look her best, but her color was healthier and some of her strength had returned.
Eruanna squirmed under Erestor's careful scrutiny. She shifted uncomfortably, her shoulder aching as she did.
"How is your shoulder?" Erestor noticed a small cringe when she shifted in her seat.
"It hurts less than I imagined it would. Istuion gave me something for the pain," Eruanna replied.
Erestor took Eruanna's hand in his. Istuion assured him the shoulder would heal, as did Elrond. One healer he was bound to question, but two were far more reassuring. "You are very lucky, Eruanna. The wound will heal and you will be well again."
"Luck?" Eruanna searched Erestor's eyes. He calls it luck? "It was not luck, Erestor, it was you. You killed him."
Erestor's mind shuttered at these words and he found himself unable to speak.
"Erestor," Eruanna placed a hand on the ellon's arm.
Erestor's head rose in answer, "Yes child?"
Eruanna hesitated before she posed the question that had formed at the very moment she saw Erestor cut down her attacker. "I was wondering… why did Glorfindel train me, instead of you?"
"Glorfindel is the greatest warrior in the realm." Erestor responded absently.
Eruanna studied Erestor face carefully. His answer hurt her more than any orc blade ever could. "You said you would never lie to me," she whispered.
"Lord Erestor," Erestor was saved a reply by the arrival of Elrond's page. He stood in the doorway, bowing deeply to both Erestor and Eruanna. "Lord Elrond requires your presence in his study."
Erestor nodded in response to the ellon's message, "Tell him I will be with him presently."
The aide nodded respectfully and departed to relay the message to his Lord.
"I will return when I can." Erestor turned away from Eruanna, keenly aware of the question he left unanswered.
A quiet knock drew Eruanna's attention to the door.
"Glorfindel," Eruanna's voice trembled with nervous anticipation. One after another her loved ones had come to see how she fared. She'd wondered when Glorfindel would make his way to see her. She was quite nervous for what he might say. After all his years of training, she nearly died in her very first battle. Nessimon assured her she'd fought well, as did Arwen, but it was Glorfindel's judgment she feared most.
Glorfindel's smile brightened at the sight of Eruanna awake and looking much improved. "Ah, my brave warrior, finally awake I see."
The sincerity in those opening words did a lot to quell her fears. Still, they did not disappear entirely. "I don't know about brave."
Glorfindel took a seat in the chair beside Eruanna's bed. He fixed her with his very best 'teacher' gaze. Arwen warned him of her concern that she'd disappointed him. He wished to assure his student at the outset that her concern was unfounded. "You fought well, Eruanna. I am proud of you."
Eruanna looked down at her hands. She had already appraised her performance and knew her mistake. She would take responsibility for it. "I turned my back on the enemy and nearly died for my mistake."
Glorfindel nodded. It was the truth and he would not coddle Eruanna by denying it. Still, he knew from experience that sparing on training fields and fighting in battle were two very different things.
Even the most experienced warriors made mistakes.
The thought made Glorfindel laugh. "Well in that case, I have one up on you, seeing as I have already died once in battle."
Eruanna's jaw fell opened. She'd forgotten about that…but still, Glorfindel died fighting a Balrog, not a common orc.
The expression on Eruanna's face was priceless. He hoped the little reminder of his own death was enough to lay the matter to rest. Now for more important matters..., "Elrond and Istuion say you will heal quickly, so long as you continue to rest. Once you've healed, we will have to work on strengthening your shoulder." He reached down into his tunic pocket and withdrew a medium sized book. "Until then, here," he handed the book over to Eruanna.
Eruanna turned the book over in her hands before returning her attention to Glorfindel. "What is this?"
"It is a book, what else," came his playful reply.
"I realize that." Eruanna countered with an equal level of sarcasm. It was unusual for Glorfindel to force reading upon her. "What is the subject?"
"It is a story of great courage," he proclaimed, in a voice that could not be challenged.
Eruanna shot Glorfindel a skeptical look, "And how would you know that?"
"I feature prominently in it, of course," was his earnest reply.
"Of course," Eruanna rolled her eyes, forcing herself not to laugh as she did so. She opened the tome to browse its content.
"It is a history of the fall of Angmar," Glorfindel explained.
"It's written in Westron!" surprise was evident in Eruanna's raised voice. She traced the script with her fingers. She could read Westron of course; Erestor would not have permitted such ignorance in any of his students. It was only that she rarely had the opportunity to make use of that knowledge.
"It is a Gondorian story," he reminded her, "a tale of men, well, mostly men."
"Yes, yes, you feature prominently in it, I know," she mocked him gently.
Glorfindel smiled broadly. He had not forgotten their conversation about men, or her feelings about them. He hoped this tale would help Eruanna see the good in men, and the good in that part of her that belonged to the Secondborn. "It will give you something to do while Istuion has you cooped up in here."
Eruanna was not blind to the significance of this gift any more than Glorfindel just happened to choose it for her. His thoughtfulness and concern warmed her heart. "Thank you, Glorfindel." She looked back down at the book. She was too tired to begin reading now, her mind occupied with other thoughts.
The conversation she'd had with Erestor before he was called away would not leave her mind. It reminded her of another conversation, one she'd had with Glorfindel long ago, something he once told her…
If there is one thing Erestor is incapable of…it's lying.
Glorfindel watched as Eruanna became lost in her own thoughts. Her face fell and a great sadness filled her eyes. "Why the long face?" he asked her.
Eruanna considered the question awhile before answering. "You were right," she concluded.
"And this is a cause for sadness?" The joke did not work, for no smile appeared on Eruanna's face. "Tell me, what was I right about?"
"Erestor is incapable of lying." The words came out softly, sadly, as if she were betraying both herself and Erestor by speaking them aloud.
Glorfindel should have seen this coming. Eruanna was certain to see the change in Erestor when she awoke. Whatever lie came out of Erestor's mouth it appeared to hurt her deeply. "What happened?"
Eruanna had to force back the guilt she felt at sharing this conversation with Glorfindel. "I asked him why he didn't teach me to fight."
Glorfindel nodded, he knew where this was going. "And his answer?"
Eruanna looked up at Glorfindel, "He said you are the greatest warrior in the realm."
Glorfindel looked down at his hands. Of course that is what he would say. He looked up into the child's eyes, the pain he saw there worried him and he tried to lighten the mood. "Not exactly a lie," he said wryly.
"But nor was it the truth," she replied ardently.
"No," he conceded, "not the whole truth."
Glorfindel leaned forward and placed a comforting hand on the elleth's good shoulder. "Do not worry yourself over Erestor. I will take care of him."
Perhaps it was the odd way in which Glorfindel spoke those last words that worried her, "How?"
Glorfindel's lips curled into a mischievous smile. How indeed? He wanted to tell her, but somehow he had the feeling this particular battle plan was best kept secret until it was ready to be unveiled. "I'm afraid if I tell you my plan, you will not like it."
"Why wouldn't I?" Surely anything Glorfindel could do to help Erestor would meet with my approval.
Glorfindel sighed. What answer could he give her? There was only one that came to mind. "Sometimes a bone must be broken again, if it is to be properly set." It was a vague response, but the best he could give her. Eruanna's eyes filled with concern and the sight pained him. She loved Erestor and did not wish to see him hurt. Glorfindel understood, but the voices that echoed her concern were drowned out by others urging him to act. He stood and headed for the door. A quiet voice called him back before he reached the threshold.
"Glorfindel."
He halted at the sound of her voice but did not look back. "Yes."
"Good luck."
Glorfindel smiled; it was all the encouragement he required.