Part: 2a
Rating: Strong R
Pairing: Haldir/OFC
Characters: Just about every other elf that Tolkien created that's in the LoTR books and movies.
Warning: descriptions of wounds
Disclaimer: All known characters are owned by the great Tolkien, all others are of my own creation.
Beta(s): Marta, Kazzy, and Vi
Timeline: 80 years before LoTR and extends to post RoTK events
Notes: I want to thank Marta, Zee, Mal, Kay, Suse, Phyllis, Vi, Novedhelion, and Dorothy for their expertise. Without their input this story would not be what it is today.
This story follows the movieverse.
Summary: With no memory of a possible alliance with Mirkwood, an elleth, lone survivor of a devastating attack, is brought to Rivendell. This is her story.
With light shining into the room, Orophin stepped through the doorway. Even though he was quiet, the elleth still jumped at the slight sound. "My lady?" he asked quietly as he started moving towards the bed.
She was awake, he could see, but scared. Terrified was more like it.
The elleth burrowed into the covers and covered her head with the blanket, hiding from everything while shivering.
Turning, Orophin called to one of the lower level healers assigned to the halls for that morning, "Call Master Elrond, quickly."
When the elf left to relay the message Orophin moved quietly to the side of the bed and sat down. The warden watched her with compassion for a short time, then reached out a hand to place it on her head. He wanted to comfort her, but he was not sure what he should do. He could feel her shivering slowly subside. The sound of returning feet alerted Orophin to the arrival of the master healer. When Orophin turned to look back to her he found she had started shivering again.
Elrond spoke quietly as he entered the room, "What is it, Orophin?"
"She wakes, but hides, Master Elrond." The warden stood and moved towards the door.
Elrond nodded his head in understanding as he moved to the bedside. "Has she spoken?"
"No, lord," Orophin shook his head.
Elrond reached a hand out so it was just above her head. "Little one, will you let me check your arms?" Elrond asked gently.
The figure froze under the covers in terror and whimpered.
"I will not harm you."
When the figure did not comply, Elrond closed his eyes and said a few words in Quenya. When finished he opened his eyes then gently reached down and pulled the blanket off the elleth's head. Her eyes were open, but she was in reverie.
"I do not like doing that," the elf-lord mumbled under his breath as he started unwinding the stained bandages on her arms.
"Do what?"
"Pushing her into reverie. 'Tis not natural, but she will not allow me to check her wounds any other way."
"Why not use a sleeping draught?"
"Because I will not force her to drink something like that when she is fully awake. If I do that she will never trust me, and trust is what I need if I am to have any success in healing her," Elrond answered while he finished unwinding the bandages around her arms.
When her arms were exposed Orophin saw the extent of her injuries again. "I do not know how she survived whatever attacked her."
"Everyone is different, Orophin," Elrond spoke absently as he gently spread a salve on her arm lacerations. "Hand me those bandages," he added as he was finishing up with her arms.
Orophin looked around for a moment. Finding the fresh material he handed them to the older elf.
"Though, you and your brothers did much for her in cleaning her wounds," Elrond finished as he began wrapping her arms. When Elrond reached her right lower arm she gave a slight moan, and shifted her position. "Shh little one, I'm almost done," Elrond spoke gently as he now worked to get the splint back in place.
Once finished he gave Orophin a serious look, "Orophin, I am going to check her other lacerations. I would prefer for you not to be here. Please get Tiniwen."
Orophin looked to the wounded elleth for a moment then nodded as he turned to leave the room. A few minutes later a young elleth with long brown hair tied back with a piece of leather entered the room and turned to close the door.
"My Lord, Orophin is waiting outside and pacing back and forth. Is he not already bound?" She was now standing on the other side of the bed while helping Elrond remove the nightgown from the elleth.
Elrond looked to make sure there was enough salve and bandages to finish the process. "Yes, he is. Though it is not uncommon for him to act like this with a wounded elf or elleth. It is his nature."
"His elleth must be very lucky to have him," she commented absently as she helped him remove the stained bandages around the elleth's chest. Working quickly, but gently, they cleaned her lacerations and placed clean, fresh bandages on her wounds. Tiniwen looked down, realizing her mistake, "My Lord, she will need another gown. Do I have your permission to retrieve another one from the same place?"
"Yes. And, take this one to the laundry area to be cleaned." Elrond handed her the stained nightgown. He hid it well, but he was slightly uncomfortable with the prospect of being alone with the elleth. Tiniwen was still new, and because of that Elrond knew she would not remember everything to be done. Out of respect the two draped a blanket over the prone form.
"I will be as quick as possible, my Lord." Tiniwen gave a quick curtsy of respect and left the room.
Alone now, Elrond moved over to the open area of the room and down into the gardens. He was still there when he heard a soft knock on the door. Turning, he went to open it just enough to see who was standing on the other side. He wanted to make sure it was Tiniwen. She stood there in the hallway holding another soft clean gown. Just behind her, Orophin was watching intently.
Catching his eye, Elrond gave a short nod before he closed the door behind him and Tiniwen. He then checked to see if the elleth was still in reverie. It would not do if she woke up and found herself in what would be a compromising position. She was still asleep, which was good; and it gave them the chance to dress her in a new gown.
When the process was completed Tiniwen went back to the door and opened it up. She found that Orophin was not alone anymore, his older brother Haldir, had shown up. Their quiet discussion was silenced by Elrond stepping out followed by Tiniwen.
She headed in another direction as Elrond addressed the two Lórien wardens, "She is in reverie for the time being. You can go and stay with her as long as you are quiet."
"Yes, lord," the brothers answered, then watched the elf-lord leave the general area.
"Do you know how she is doing?" Haldir asked quietly.
"Nay brother. I do know her arms were very badly injured. Master Elrond bade me leave after he finished with her arms."
"She had more wounds than on her arms," Haldir commented idly as he moved into the room. Haldir moved to the balcony and gazed down into the gardens while Orophin had placed himself in the chair again beside the bedside again.
"It is not good for you to stay here all day. I will come after I have finished lunch." Haldir turned to look at his brother and the elleth.
"Very well." Orophin nodded.
"You know Thriniel might become jealous if she finds out about you being here."
"I will tell her everything. I know I have nothing to worry about. Now leave, my brother. You seem to be pining for the trees."
Haldir rolled his eyes and shook his head at his brother's choice of words as he left the room.
A few hours later Haldir showed back up, ready to relieve Orophin. "How is she?" he asked as he settled into the chair Orophin had been in.
"Quiet. I think she is still in reverie, but I'm not that sure."
"Has Master Elrond come to change her bandages?" Haldir placed a hand gently on her forehead, there was no reaction.
"He did that right before you came earlier. You know I have learned no healing lore, so I do not know when he is going to come again."
"Most likely in a couple of hours," Haldir guessed. "Go and rest, brother."
"Aye, I will, but not until I've had something to eat." Orophin left the chamber and headed in the direction of where lunch was still being served.
TBC...............