Part: 2d
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.
Elrond rose from his bed, feeling much better. He was still tired, but not so exhausted that he was wiped out, as he felt earlier. The crest Haldir had found sat on the table. When he considered himself presentable, he picked up the crest and left his chambers to head back to the Halls of Healing. Finding Tiniwen, he led her back towards the room the elleth was placed in at her arrival.
Entering the room quietly, Tiniwen stayed close to the door while Elrond approached the bed. He had no idea how he was going to help her with her possible memory loss. She had been gazing at the outside trees. Hearing them enter, she jumped slightly and started shivering again. When she saw Elrond, her shivering slowly subsided. The elf-lord pulled a chair up next to the bed.
"I am sorry I was not here earlier," he started. "What do you remember?" I must start somewhere, and that is as good a place as any.
"The attack, I think. . .I don't know," she whispered as she closed her eyes and shivered slightly.
"It is over, little one," Elrond assured her, placing a hand on her forehead. Removing his hand he retrieved the crest. "Do you remember this?" He placed it in her hands.
She studied the round object, turning it over. "I. . .I think so." She shook her head and closed her eyes. "I don't know." Her shivering came back with sobs, "I. . .I can't remember."
Arms surrounded her as she balled up her left hand into a fist and hit whatever was closest at hand, sobbing.
"It is over with. You are safe," Elrond spoke gently. He waited until she wore herself out, then gently settled her back on the bed, while hearing her whimper. Placing a hand on her forehead again, he continued, "I will not force you to recall those memories until you are ready." He reached down for the crest and rose to his feet to approach Tiniwen.
"She is not to be disturbed."
"Yes, my Lord." Tiniwen gave him a quick curtsey as he moved towards the door. The younger elleth turned to look back at the patient for a moment before she went through the door and back to her studies.
Elrond sat down at his desk in his personal study and placed the crest in front of him. He knew there was nothing he could do until she got over the worst of the trauma, and that bothered him.
Late in the evening Elrond returned to the elleth's room one last time to check in on her before he prepared himself for bed. Stepping into the room his brow creased in concern at the sight before him. The elleth was having another nightmare. He placed the lamp he was carrying on a table and sat on the side of the bed and pulled her into his arms, rocking her gently.
Suddenly her muscles tensed up. "Little one?" Elrond looked down to her face. She was awake now, which was good. She shook her head and burrowed deeper into his arms. "It is all right. You're safe," he whispered into her hair.
When she finally fell back asleep Elrond went to settle her back down, though he had to stop when her arms tightened again, this time around him. This put him in an uncomfortable position. She was obviously scared of being alone at night, but it was not proper for him to stay there any longer than he had to without someone else present. The healer in him eventually won in the end and he settled himself on the bed, holding the elleth close to him as if she was a small elfling.
Which is where Erestor found him early the next morning. The counselor had looked for Elrond to make sure he slept. With the bed unused, he went searching for the elf-lord.
Elrond was propped up against several pillows with the elleth in his arms, both asleep. They looked so peaceful that Erestor felt guilty in waking either of them. Beside the bed was a burned-out lamp.
The counselor approached the bed and touched Elrond's arm. "My Lord?" he asked softly, trying not to wake the sleeping elleth.
Elrond blinked a few times as he came back from the realm of dreams. "Erestor?" he whispered.
"'Tis early morning. If I were you, I would head back to bed," Erestor answered quietly with a wry smile.
Elrond nodded as he slowly sat up, untangling their arms. Settling her down he leaned close and whispered a few healing words while placing a hand on the side of her head so she would not be disturbed from the realm of peaceful dreams. "She is plagued with nightmares like CelebrÃan," he said softly as he rose. "I only intended to be here until she fell asleep."
"Do not worry, my Lord. No one will know about this."
"Thank you, Erestor."
Elrond left the chamber and moved quietly back to his own rooms. He would not dare tell Erestor how that simple gesture of comforting her had affected him profoundly, physically and emotionally. It felt good to be needed and give comfort like that again.
He always bathed in the early morning hours, and today was no different from the others. His personal bathing room was already prepared. Stripping down, he settled into the heated water, letting out a sigh of contentment. An image of the elleth fluttered across his mind which made his body stir in response. I have taken care of elleths before. Why this time, he asked himself in dismay. She is probably bound, he thought somberly, though he did remember she wore neither silver nor gold ring on her forefinger. I should not have stayed there, he thought. With almost an air of resignation, he reached down. He hated doing this.
He waited until only the sound of the night could be heard. The hunt in the hidden valley was good, but he had to be careful. Not being seen was his main goal.
There was no singing tonight, which, oddly enough, he missed. The sound was ethereal in its beauty. He was standing at the edge of the river and remembered that he wanted to check on her in a few days, but this was only the next night. And he had a desire to see to it she was taken care of.
Silently, he worked his way back up the noisy river and to the houses. He easily slipped into the gardens and then worked his way to the largest house. Most of the windows were dark, though he could see someone carrying a lamp within one of them. The moving light stopped in a room that was open to the gardens. Listening carefully, he could hear faint rustling and a man's voice. Like last time the words were strange to his ears, but they were spoke with great gentleness.
With his curiosity heightened, he silently climbed the ivy covered trellis that clung to the wall. With the same silent grace he reached the open area and slipped inside the chamber.
She was asleep.
With a trembling hand, he reached out to touch her cheek, but pulled back when the man stirred. Quickly stepping out of the man's sight, he waited. When it was obvious he was still asleep he looked to her again. Her wounds had been cared for, which made him smile. The man held her securely, but gently. Maybe this was her home, and she was his woman.
His convictions increased when she sighed and snuggled closer to the man. Until he knew for certain she would be safe, he would continue to watch her. For now, the two looked content. Knowing she was safe for the moment, he backed away and climbed down to the gardens. From there he disappeared into the night.
TBC...................