A/N: No reviews T_T so sad. But alas, here is chapter 2 anyways. Show me some love and review!
Chapter 2
Day. It was sunny and oh so warm as summer gained strength and winter waned; yet he felt no warmth. No matter how it tried to warm him, to soothe him, he would deny it satisfaction. Deny it utterly. He couldn't bring himself to find joy in anything whilst his friend lay so horrifically beaten. The image of how he'd found Glorfindel played over and over in his head. Tormenting him. His fingers traced the bruise on his arms left by the rough hands of his attacker idly. It never should have happened. Rivendell was a refuge; A place of healing. If one was not safe here where would they be? He sighed heavily and moved to the mortar and pestle crushing another batch of herbs following the instructions left by Elrond.
Erestor sighed once more feeling so weary. But a few hours had passed and yet it felt as if it had been days. Hourly he changed every poultice and salve, checked the bandage for the puncture in his side which still bleed sluggishly, and renewed the coals in the hot pans for his friend hardly seemed able to maintain warmth. He pressed a palm to his swollen marred forehead scowling at the chill it still held. He would never heal properly he couldn't be kept warm. He finished applying the salves and fresh bandages then paced the room for a while impatiently thinking of ways to aid Glorfindel's healing. Were circumstances different he would climb into the blankets with him to help warm him but he could not do that and be ready to fight for his friend's life at the same time. He went to his storage trunk and pulled out every spare blanket he had throwing it over his friend hoping but doubting they would help.
"Wake Glorfindel, please wake mellon-nin" he whispered into the stricken elf's ear a hand pressed once more to his forehead. He could feel the maelstrom of pain fear and exhaustion like a shield blocking his mind and soul from even the slightest glimpse. He struggled to push through it and reach the mind. He may not be able to coax him to wake for the severity of his injuries so near to their cause but maybe he could give the Balrog slayer a bit of peace.
He slumped back head pounding body aching and heart clenched with copied fear his attempt failing with great consequence to him. Glorfindel was too deeply withdrawn and shrouded by the pain and fear. He sat back slumping slightly his body shaking from the attempt.
"I did not realize I could not leave you alone for your foolishness Erestor" Elrond admonished entering the room with frightening silence startling the counselor.
"I had to try. He hurts so badly. I needed to give him a bit of respite" Erestor defended himself voice hampering his attempt with it's shaking.
"Drink this it will steady you" Elrond brewed up a tea and gave it to Erestor before moving to check Glorfindel once more.
"I have tried to make him warm but it is as if I wrap him in ice and snow for he remains chill" Erestor explained worriedly sipping his tea obediently.
"He has lost much blood. It will be some time before his body can be warmed once more. Continue with the coals for it is all we can do. His breathing has improved" Elrond replaced the covers finished with his check and turned back to Erestor looking a bit strengthened.
"Aye, it eased an hour or so after you applied the salve, though I fear that is all that has improved." A thick silence filled the room not uncomfortable yet hardly easy.
"Oh no…" Elrond suddenly pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.
"What? What's wrong?" Erestor looked baffled at Elronds sudden ailing.
"Elrohir and Elledan were supposed to spend the day with Glorfindel today! How am I to keep them away now?" both their shoulders slumped in dismay. The twins were tenaciously persistent and a refusal would only spur them to investigate. They couldn't be allowed to see him like this.
"Can you tell them you had to send him on an urgent journey?" Erestor suggested.
"They would find his horse in the stables to confirm…or try to follow him. They've done that before" Elrond grumbled.
"Perhaps the truth then? That there was an unexpected battle while he was on patrol and is injured? That's partly true at least." Contemplative silence filled the room.
"That would probably be best. I will fetch the ingredients for broth. Try your best to get him to swallow some of it down. He needs all the strength that can be mustered"
A short time later and Elrond found himself in a fresh change of clothes looking perfectly calm and kempt as if nothing had happened. It was one of many skills that made him excel at lording over Rivendell yet it brought him much pain. Here he was acting as if all were right with the world while Glorfindel lay gravely, possibly mortally, wounded. It felt like he were disgracing one of his closest friends by giving no acknowledgement to his suffering. As he sat pushing the food on his breakfast plate about lacking appetite with his fork his mind brooded over his friends. He had once been asked which was more cherished, more needed to him; Glorfindel or Erestor. He forgot why the subject had come up and it was a perfectly friendly conversation. He had merely expressed that he could not choose one for they were both equal and different. Erestor refined his mind and designs while Glorfindel did his bidding and took those plans to accomplishment. He could not and would not manage without them both.
"Good morning Ada!" Elledan and Elrohir chimed leaping into their chairs energetically and began to shovel food onto it.
"Oh today is going to be a great day!" Elrohir began excitedly, "Glorfindel said he'd take us fishing and let us ride that new red stallion he got last month and then he'd spar with us and said if we wanted he'd ride with us through the forest to look for ents and….Ada what is wrong?" Elrond gulped. He was not surprised that Elrohir noticed his dismay despite his best efforts to hide it.
"I am afraid you will not be able to spend today with Glorfindel my sons" his heart sank with the dropping of their faces suddenly saddened.
"But why?" Elledan ventured worriedly.
"For last night, late at night, Glorfindel was attack and is greatly hurt. Only Erestor and I may see him today and we mustn't speak of this to anyone" Elrond explained haltingly. With his twins the truth would do better than a sugar coated falsehood.
"Why is it a secret Ada if Glorfindel was hurt in battle?" Elrohir pushed. Elrond closed his eyes wearily. He had feared this would happen.
"Glorfindel was not hurt in battle my child, he was here and I fear his attacker may return to hurt him again" he prayed that his children would not grow fearful of those around him for this truth.
"Oh" The only response. The rest of the meal was spent in heavy silence. Elrond continued to brood over how he would find the culprit and still keep Rivendell running smoothly for he could not stop his duty to it for the time it would take to fully devote to Glorfindel.
After a bit of time his sons finished their breakfast and slunk away in silence unnoticed by him while he finally brought himself to eat his now cold food. He didn't want it but he would need the nourishment. The day was going to be long and hard. He spent the few hours after his meal pushing through some tedious tasks agreeing to trades, requests for supplies and scouting rosters and the likes. His mind however was fully occupied by thoughts of Glorfindel. After he finished his token paperwork he chose to walk about the grounds of Rivendell seeming in peaceful repose while truly watching those around him looking for signs of strange behavior or guilt. He kept his walk neither slow nor fast keen eyes ever searching; For naught. None showed signs of suspicion. With a sinking feeling of defeat he returned to his office intending to do a few more of his duties he couldn't avoid before returning to Glorfindel. He was maybe ten minutes into his work again, wishing he could just abandon it, when he heard footsteps enter.
"Greetings Elrond" Haldir chimed with an easy smile. Elrond looked up swiftly and immediately Haldir, ever the astute, picked up on his sense of unease and the look of exhaustion he tried so hard to hide his smile slipping away.
"What ails you for I sense you are deeply troubled" Elrond leaned back tiredly in his hardwood chair. Haldir could always see when he was ill at ease no matter how well he tried to hide it.
"If you would shut the door Haldir and I will tell you all" Elrond decided after a moment's pause. He trusted the elf entirely. Haldir looked at him surprised for he was never one to close the door. He was always welcoming those whom would wish to speak with him.
"Tell me" he settled into a chair the door now shut.
"Late last night Glorfindel was attacked" Elrond began part of his mind eager to deny it.
"I was not aware Glorfindel was in the regions of battle?" Haldir mused slightly confused having been told the elf remained in Rivendell for a time.
"He was not. The attacked happened in his office and though that failed it was of….sexual nature" he hesitated at that. He had not wanted to let it be known but Haldir could help to find the culprit and to do so would need the full truth and was one of great discretion. He wouldn't shame Glorfindel with gossip.
"The attacker was unsuccessful?" he needed reassurance. He had to know for sure he'd heard it right.
"Indeed, I saw no indication of success though I believe it came very close" Elrond scrubbed a hand through his unbraided hair. A sigh of relief.
"How does he fare? Is he awake? Perhaps he can describe his attacker and aid our search?" Plans began to formulate in Haldir's mind.
"He fares poorly indeed. I fear he may never wake for wound to his head" Haldir jumped out of his chair instantly heart filled with fear.
"I would see him at once!" Elrond nodded understandingly.
"In secret he is kept in Erestor's chambers" Haldir turned on his heel storming toward the chamber.
It took him no time at all to get to the door of Erestor's room and none crossed his path on the way due to the still early hour when he found his path blocked. Before the door with a students staff with blade tip guarding it silently was Elladen.
"Excuse me Elladen I need to get in there" he tried to skirt around the boy but he glared and smacked his shin with his staff.
"No one but Ada and Erestor can go in there!" Elladen snarled. Haldir sighed. He didn't have time for this.
"Elladen I am going in there. I have to get in there and speak with Erestor!" he let a drip of sharpness seep into his voice. Elladen was unaffected.
"No. Only Erestor and Ada are permitted lest the attacker return" Haldir admired the loyalty but he wasn't going to be delayed any longer. He strode forward to force his way past expecting it to be easy. It wasn't until he was but a foot away from Elladen whom was preparing to strike when the blow to the back of his head bringing dancing stars to his vision that he realized his error. Elrohir had been in hiding.
0o0o0o0
Elrond scrubbed at a headache. It was exhausting pretending to be carefree and free of worry when all his thoughts were consumed by fear for Glorfindel. He could find no clues about whom had attacked him. Would they return to try their violent advances or perhaps to simply kill him in a rage for failing the first time? It troubled him. It had been a few hours since he'd sent Haldir to Erestor and Glorfindel and he'd not returned. He found that strange having expected a report on how they fared. He sighed concluding he would just have to go himself.
He chose to side-track to his chambers for a moment's peaceful solitude. He scrubbed his face with cool water feeling it soothe and refresh him slightly and poured a draught of sweet wine sipping it. He sauntered toward a padded chair when he tripped over something spilling his wine over his robes. He grumbled setting the now empty glass on the dresser and went to his massive wardrobe opened it and grabbed a new tunic then turned to change and froze eyes going wide.
"Haldir! Why are you in my wardrobe?" he questioned opening the wardrobe door once more. Haldir sat slumped at the bottom ankles and wrists tied, an eye black with a massive lump at his left temple and a row of bruises along his jaw. He glared angry as he was wedged free of the wardrobe and unbound.
"What took you so long! Do you realize how stuffy it is to sit tied in a wardrobe!" Haldir let loose a string of curses rubbing the feeling back into his hands.
"Why were you in there? Who attacked you?" Elrond questioned again.
"Your twins. Elrohir and Elladen seem to have taken up guardianship of Glorfindel and are attacking anyone but yourself and Erestor that desire entrance" Elrond groaned uplifting his gaze to the ceiling. He should have known this would happen once he'd told them Glorfindel was attacked.
"My sincerest apologies. They often entertain grand notions. Though I don't know how to punish them for this. It's only done from loyalty." Haldir would sympathize later. His head still hurt from Elrohir's blows.
Together they went and found three other people, mostly curious passerbys, locked in closets. They were liberated with stammered apologies and no explanation. Haldir hurried them on with a long denied eagerness. They found Elladen, appearing alone, at the door once more looking over confident. No doubt Elrohir waited in hiding again. In the presence of their father however they were allowed to pass unhindered. They were ordered to their rooms for the day though no one was illusioned to think they would obey.
"How fares he now Erestor?" he leaned over him pleased to see that while cool to the touch the shivering had lessened and he seemed more stable. He turned to mix together a tea to strengthen him. Haldir had a fey look on his face seeing the severity of Glorfindel's condition.
"What do we know? Who did this?" he demanded. The rage that burned through his chest seeing Glorfindel so battered and broken was almost uncontrollable.
"We know little. It happened late last night and Glorfindel was left alive and the attempt failing but there's no indication it was because of interruption" Erestor explained.
"See if he can drink this this time" he commanded Erestor. He choked and gagged as the warm liquid slipped down his throat.
"None knew of the attack except the people in the room and the twins so there is no chance of a witness" Elrond spat frustrated.
"We must either wait for a second attack or set a trap for the criminal then" Haldir declared.
"Traps are difficult when you don't know the enemy. We haven't even knowledge of if there was only one attacker" there was silence.
"Let him rest and heal a few days more. There be unconfirmed rumor of the attack. Just enough rumor that Glorfindel has been attacked and the attacker is known. It will make him nervous and likely to expose himself. Then we will strike" Erestor and Elrond nodded in agreement. The plan was good.