"I refuse to allow an outsider access to our records!" Master Salabart vehemently protested.
"It is a breach of protocol." Master Falmar pointed out.
"They are records of the recent outbreaks of illnesses among our people. We are talking about cholera and dysentery. Surely, you should see the wisdom of seeking advice on how to prevent future outbreaks." Councilor Hardan chided. The two Master healers were fielding questions from the council of ten as well as raising their own objections. Most upon the council were descended from those who escaped from Númenor but several were of the Dunlending, including Hardan, who could trace his lineage back to the house of Haleth.
"Is it not our duty to protect people from all threats including that of illness and disease?" Cardul voiced his concern. He represented the people who had settled in the rolling lands between the rivers Baranduin and Mitheithel to the east.
"It could present a strategic advantage to the enemy to know when we are most vulnerable." Master Salabart pointed out.
"Are you seriously suggesting that lore master Elrond Earendilion who gave suggestions related to public health and hygiene to the founders of Númenor, might be a security threat?"
"No," Master Salabart relented. "But we know nothing of his staff."
"Master Falmar," Prince Valandil interrupted. "Give Lord Erestor access to the records. He may be able to discern trends among the people who fell ill. "
"You do not have the authority to give orders yet." Lord Senetan stood from his seat. The imposing figure dominated the council and the Queen had many a verbal battle with the war hero and leader. He was a distant cousin of Isildur.
"While that is true, Lord Senetan, We concur with my son's opinion on this matter." The Queen entered more slowly than usual but nothing in her manner betrayed her own health battles. Beleg and two of the royal guards followed discreetly behind the Queen and took up silent posts nearby. "Lord Elrond and his advisors have been guarding the public health much longer than we have. Any advice would be most welcome. We have lost many of our experts to war. I intend to protect our citizens to the best of my abilities."
"Queen Muriel." Senetan bowed. "I object. What if this year's serious outbreaks are tied to the poisoning?"
"So noted." Muriel nodded. "However, I am not convinced that these events are related by more than simple coincidence. I do not mean to discuss this further. There are other items on the agenda that are more pressing. Councilor Hardan please convene a committee to verify that none of our current laws have originated from the time that Sauron exerted influence over our rulers. King Elendil nearly thirty years ago decreed that laws altered during Sauron's influence be struck from our books. However, King Meneldil recently identified several laws concerning debtors and inheritance of personal liability that remain in effect in Gondor. I would like to ensure that similar laws have already been changed in Arnor."
"Yes, my Queen." The councilor quickly agreed although he looked ill at ease.
"You have my leave to speak your concerns." The Queen coaxed.
"Guards have never entered our council chambers before." Hardan stated as he eyed the guards.
"It has not been previously necessary." Queen Muriel returned. "However, I now have evidence that makes their presence prudent." Indeed the discussion would soon address recent security breaches and the queen's safety before turning to the upcoming coronation and trading issues.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
"The city is much bigger than I thought." Celebrían mused as they passed a third market square. Their escort consisted of two of the royal guards, and Cirulian and Rúmil. "How many live here?"
"Valandil estimated that just under twenty thousand people live in Annúminas. Those survivors of the nine ships from Númenor multiplied and mixed with the Dunlending and other peoples of middle earth. To me it is a staggering number, especially when one also considers the horrendous losses suffered in the war. The numbers put pressure on water quality and waste treatment."
"They multiply so quickly?"
"They live their lives so energetically in flashes of brilliance as Elros was so fond of saying."
"He was enamored with them."
"Since the first day the day descendants of the house of Bëor welcomed us into their home as kin. We had experienced first hand both the good and the evil elves were capable of. Life in a small village of men was simple and refreshing. "
"A family adopted you?"
"Belegarous and his wife Ríanna." Elrond smiled as he remembered their joy and how Elros insisted they cut their hair in the style of men. "Now, she was a force to be reckoned with! Their sons were similar in age to us when we arrived, although they treated us as younger brothers. We watched in amazement and curiosity as they married and in a short span of time, had families of their own."
"Excuse me, my Lord and Lady." The guard motioned for them to ease their horses over to the stables. "We have arranged to leave the horses here. They will be tended while we to tour the waterworks and lake front." They pulled their horses up into a small courtyard and several men greeted them. Elrond dismounted his moody stallion and offered assistance to his beloved. While not particular necessary as Celebrían was an excellent rider, the two reveled in the simple nearness required.
"Thank you for coming on this inspection." He whispered as she swung her legs over. As he gripped her waist and lifted her, lips brushed his check sending shivers through them both.
"My pleasure." Came the breathless reply. The black stallion snickered his disapproval as he poked his nose in Elrond's hair.
"I do believe your horse is jealous!" Celebrían declared. Elrond's musical laughter rang out in reply. He turned but did not release Celebrían's hand.
"Thank you for bearing me Corer. Would you like an apple?" The horse neighed and gleefully accepted the bribe.
"Must you always favor such willful steeds?" Cirulian huffed.
"There, is the elven equivalent of Corer." Celebrían whispered softly, evoking Elrond's laughter yet again. Rúmil tried to hold back his own laughter at overhearing the comment.
"That analogy is lost on him." Elrond fought back a chuckle.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
"Please rest Mother." Prince Valandil kissed her and guided her into her bedroom. "The council session was of record length. You look exhausted."
"It is but an hour until dinner." She protested but yawned slightly.
"Does your side still hurt?" Valandil carefully added the packet of herbs to the boiling water. Elrond and he agreed that only the two of them should prepare his Mother's healing draughts.
"It aches a little but it is much improved." She sighed slightly and accepted the tea from her son. "And who has volunteered for the duty of the royal taster?"
"Mother!" Valandil choked slightly at the flippant remark. The knowledge that someone had been steadily poisoning his mother was sobering.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
"You toured their library and school yesterday?" Elrond asked as they finished their tour of the interior of the waterworks and stepped outside.
"Their library is still quite spartan and they are missing expertise in certain areas at their school."
"So much was lost when Númenor sank beneath the waves." Elrond lamented.
"Yet these people are full of life and ambition. They will relearn and rediscover." Celebrían caressed his long fingers. "Strong in war and gentle in peace." She reflected. "I suggested to Queen Muriel that we arrange for texts from Mithlond and Imladris to be copied and transported here."
"That is an excellent idea." Elrond smiled at his beloved's enthusiastic suggestion. "Public health is one area I see is lacking. I assume their experts in that area perished for most of their texts and protocols stem from when Silsilalda led a team of elven healers to the Minas Ithil to help stem an outbreak of influenza."
"There are no texts on public health earlier than the late second age? That was a mere hundred years ago!" Celebrían voiced her astonishment. They stood in the sun overlooking the intake valves. A large flock of geese were sunning themselves on the shoreline, which was peppered with droppings. More birds were floating on the lake and seemed to be eagerly watching the fisherman on the long pier nearby.
"I believe we have found the source of the at least some of the problem." Elrond pointed as one of the birds eagerly accepted food from the fisherman. "I bet we can correlate the outbreak of bacterial illnesses with the migration patterns of the birds."
Xxxxxxxxxxx
"How is she?" Meneldil entered without knocking.
"She is recovering. The tea that Elrond suggested seems to ease her pain." Valandil could not quite conceal his anxiety.
"I did not quite understand what the guards were searching for? What was the second agent?"
"Elrond believes it is a fungus, which is often a yellow-green color and may grow on pearl millet, maize or wheat. It can be deadly at higher concentrations, so we suspect that the perpetrator has advanced medical knowledge and would know how to isolate the toxin and gauge its potency."
"One of the healers?"
"It is possible. I have sent guards to search the school of healing as well as any apothecary in the area."
"That seems prudent." Meneldil paused. "But you are still worried. Will your mother not fully recover?"
"Elrond is optimistic for a full recovery but she could not answer some of the questions about her health, for all of the early records from Númenor were lost."
"Such as?"
"It seems that exposure to this toxin increases one's propensity for developing abnormal growths on the liver that can spread throughout the body and slowly bring death. Elrond wanted to know if Mother ever had any other liver illness as it would increase the likelihood that she would develop such growths."
"Your Mother does not remember?"
"So she said, although her eyes seemed to say otherwise."
"You can speak to Elrond in private and learn the signs of this disease. Perhaps there are treatments. Did the Peredhel seem very concerned?"
"His face was passive, but I could feel he was upset."
"Remember he is an elf and slowly for him might be a long time indeed to us." Meneldil paused. "I must admit that he seems very fond of you and your Mother."
"You are surprised." It was a statement.
"I am. One cannot help but admire his generous and forgiving heart." Meneldil said quietly.
"Then you should stop startling him. It is as if you mean to catch him in a lie." Valandil frowned. "He has been up all hours trying to identify the poison."
"At first I did, but now." He paused as a smile spread across his cousin's face. "I find it too amusing. Sometimes it is hard to fathom that the peredhel is over three thousand years old. Give him a haircut and a beard and he could easily fit into our society."
"I doubt he will consent to a haircut!" Valandil could not hold back his laughter.
Xxxxxxxxxx
"Let us go see what they are catching!" Celebrían announced excitedly as she half dragged Elrond behind her. Cirulian and Rúmil exchanged amused looks as they followed the couple. There were several men at the beginning of the pier fishing with nets. They stepped carefully around them over the weathered wooden planks that were stained in places with fresh blood. Geese and other birds looked on expectantly as the fishermen and women sat waiting on a nibble. One woman lazily cast her line out while a man nearby seemed to be reeling something in.
"A bite Papa!" The boy beside him squealed in delight. Perhaps dinner tonight would be good.
"Keep the net handy!" His father instructed. Indeed they had caught a shimmering green freshwater bass nearly two feet long. The son moved the net underneath as his father maneuvered the fish onto the pier.
"He is heavy! Maybe ten pounds!" The boy's excitement was palpable as he watched his father work the hook from the fishes' mouth and place him in a large cooler.
"A fine catch, indeed!" Elrond praised. "Congratulations!" The boy looked up and gasped.
"Look Papa, an elf brought us luck!"
"One makes their own luck little one." Elrond waved as they passed. "May Elbereth keep you safe and healthy." Celebrían maneuvered her arm to settle around Elrond's waist. He pulled her closer in response and draped his arm around her shoulder. They meandered down the pier, stopping to admire other catches. The sun was well past halfway on its journey and its golden light shimmered enticingly on the water.
"A swim perhaps?" Celebrían smiled slyly. Elrond ran his hand lovingly through her silver tresses.
"Perhaps another day. I expect the water is still quite chilly." He bit back a yawn. All the exercise, fresh sea air, and several sleepless nights were catching up with him.
"Wus." She teased as their lips brushed. Such bliss!
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
"Lord Erestor, I had no idea such maps would be so informative." Master Salabart begrudgingly praised as he marveled at the clever idea of plotting the homes of those who fell pray to cholera, dysentery and stomach flues in specific colors on the map. Patterns emerged that were easy to recognize.
"Lord Elrond is checking the three water distribution centers that lie in near this location. It showed the highest incidents of stomach flu." Cardul reported to his Queen and Prince. "And Councilor Hardan and Lord Senetan have gone to check the other area."
"It may be in order to have the sewage connections and storm water drains checked in both areas. Typically, these diseases can be prevented with good sanitation practices. Broken sewage lines and clogged storm water drains can produce an environment suitable for bacteria to multiply." Erestor suggested.
"Elves even fall ill to such contagions?"
"They can at times." Erestor nodded. "Most elves inhabit areas that are not as densely populated as the cities of men. But we have had some problems in Mithlond and Lindon. We have also helped many towns and villages of men as well as dwarves plan ways to guard their citizen's health."
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
"Another eventful day." Glorfindel sipped at the brandy.
"All too eventful." Erestor complained. "I thought this trip was to be a relaxing celebration of Valandil's coming of age."
"Yet, your skillful mapping and other observations will better the live of countless thousands." Glorfindel praised.
"You and Elrond were also most eloquent in detailing the changes that could be painlessly implemented." Erestor returned the complement.
"And our Lord and future Lady had at least a few hours of enjoyment." Cirulian smiled and relayed the events on the pier.
"They do seem to be well matched." Glorfindel grinned mischievously as he added. "No matter what the Lord and Lady of the Golden woods believe."
"Will they really insist on them waiting a hundred years until the bonding ceremony?"
"If so, I think they may just run off together in protest." Erestor's laugh was interrupted by an urgent knock.
"Enter." Glorfindel called. Cirulian was already up and ready for danger.
"My Lords, please excuse the interruption." Beleg panted as he scanned the room. He had obviously been running. "Is Elrond here?"
"He is sleeping."
"Prince Valandil requests his immediate presence. One of the healers was found dead." Beleg gasped to catch his breath.
"Murder?" Erestor rose to fetch his cloak and a notebook.
"A kingdom for a decent night's sleep." Glorfindel walked deliberately to Elrond's door, shaking his head slightly.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
"We found wheat that harbored the fungus in his office, yet you do not believe that it was Salabart! Why?" Valandil turned and nearly demanded once they had crossed into the Master healer's study.
"No, I do not." Elrond strolled slowly over to the window. "For one thing, he did not have the supplies either here in his office or at his home to cultivate the fungus. I also find it strange that there was no special glassware for isolating the toxin as well as no signs of serial dilutions. Preparing a sample of the toxin in a dilute enough dosage to sicken but not kill would be a very precise undertaking."
"But then his suicide was murder." Valandil countered.
"Very difficult to prove. But Erestor is most skilled at gathering evidence. If it was murder…." Elrond sighed at the implications as he rubbed his temples. A headache was building, obscuring the nagging doubt that ate at him. "True, Salabart, did not agree with the Queen and appointed the two female healers begrudgingly."
"He and Falmar often battled over treatments and policies for running the school."
"But those are hardly solid reasons for treason for trying to poison the Queen."
"But Salabart was treating my mother. He had both motive and opportunity."
"There seems to be much jockeying for power in the healing house." Elrond paused, now wondering if they could be overheard. "Perhaps we should discuss this in a more secure location." The young King nodded begrudgingly and called for his guard. They proceeded out of the halls and down along the esplanade. The fresh air was welcome a change and gave Elrond's spirit a needed lift. In truth, he was feeling tired enough to consider a watered down drink of Sogeredh. Erestor had decided to remain a while longer to search for more clues but had seen through Elrond's weariness and had urged him to rest. Elrond shivered slightly although the now midday sun was warm upon them. They walked along the great promenade along the shores of Lake Nenuial. The hall of kings glinted majestically in the sun.
Xxxxxxxxxx
"One of the healers committed suicide?" Celebrían repeated in shock.
"So it seems. My son just sent word that they found evidence of the fungus, which Elrond identified as containing one of the poisons." Queen Muriel reported as they gathered in the garden gazebo. Cemendur was climbing trees nearby.
"I pray that is the root of this threat, dear Aunt." Meneldil squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"If anyone can determine that it would be Erestor and Elrond." Celeborn turned from where he had been observing the boy's progress through the trees. "They have had much practice tracking conspiracies over Ereinion's long reign."
"That should no longer be either of their roles." Glorfindel shifted uneasily. "It leaves them both vulnerable to the perpetrator's reach."
"Let us hope that the perpetrator is now dead and no longer able to due any harm." Queen Irviniel whispered as she again checked the locations of the guards. Given the events of the past few weeks she felt justified in being slightly paranoid.
Xxxxxxxxxx
Elrond was used to Beleg shadowing him but the Dúnedain had moved much closer as they crossed into the council chambers. Suddenly a sharp blade pricked his neck.
"Keep silent and you do not have to die." An unfamiliar voice hissed in his ear. In a flash, Elrond slammed his head backwards and there was a sickening crunch as his attacker cried out. The blade nicked downward and Elrond hissed at the sting of the cut. But he had instantly gained the upper hand. He pivoted and slammed his arm down hard on his attackers elbow. Another crack was drowned out by Elrond's cry of warning.
"Valandil! To arms!" Elrond quickly retrieved his attackers sword and brought the handle down hard on the man's head. The man crashed to the floor. Others advanced towards him their swords rang against his in the confined space of the room.