Elves require less sleep and typically rise with the sun. So, it was quite early in the morning when Ereinion and Cirdan were having breakfast on the veranda. Cirdan was sipping his tea and enjoying a bowl of fruit with quark, a yogurt like delicacy of Mithlond.

"Thainren cares deeply for Elrond and was quite worried about his health. The elfling is much loved among the dwarves. He appears be a born diplomat and ambassador."

"That he already shows skills in these areas does not surprise me. Though it grieves me to hear that the night terrors haunt him so regularly. I will escort him to the house of healing this morning. I remember Elwing had on a several occasions acquired illnesses normally associated with Edain but she soon recovered. Perhaps it is something straightforward which prevents him from eating."

"Do you think that your presence might make him more self-conscious? Perhaps Laeste should take him."

"She had the feeling that Elrond has not been in the company of Ellith much. She was also quiet worried at how emaciated the elfling was and noted that she could count every rib. He did not eat much at dinner and was at times visibly nervous around other elves. I am his only kin. I would like him to feel comfortable around me." Ereinion himself had never interacted extensively with younger elves. He was unsure how he should treat Elrond and tried to imagine what care was important for him when he had first been sent to foster with Cirdan. He wondered briefly how the elfling would react to meeting Indiriel his betrothed, the light of his life. He was sure she would know how to reassure the young one. "Did Thainren say how early the elfling usually wakes?"

"He said that he needed to wake him."

"That's curious. Perhaps we should send Laeste. How long will you stay at the palace?"

"I don't think I can leave my duties at the port longer than a few days, but I will be back often. I would like to get to know Elrond and I'm sure that he would enjoy a tour of the port."

"I do not doubt that the elfling would enjoy almost anything you choose to show him, it's much like giving water to one who has endured the desert." Cirdan laughed at Ereinion's comparison.

"True, but there is something so refreshing about his unbridled enthusiasm. I already see great promise in him."

Ereinion squirmed uneasily at the comment. "I think you are correct, Cirdan. I think he already has visions. I believe that this one is gifted or cursed with foresight. Last night his dream was of a battle sometime in the future with Morgoth."

Cirdan sat up suddenly intrigued. "What did he see?"

"He described the battle quite realistically with Men and Elves fighting wolves, dwarves and dragons. He said his father battled the dragons from a great ship that sailed through the air. He said that he fought near me. Surely, he is too young to go to war!" Ereinion paused contemplatively.

"Do you think Eärendil has reached Valinor? Do you think the Valar took Elwing there as well? No body was ever found." Cirdan mused.

"I think we have no way of knowing, unless the Valar see fit to send us a sign." Ereinion returned. "Though it would be fitting if they chose to send the message through Elrond."

Xxxxxx

"Elrond?" Laeste called again into the room that was already brightly lit by the morning sun. The elf did not respond and she could see his still figure on the bed. Her tabby cat, Selig slinked past her, stealthily climbing up on the bed and settling on the dark silken hair.

"Selig!" Laeste cried more loudly. "Leave the elfling alone." But Selig only mewed once in response, startling the figure she was perched against. She purred softly and playfully sniffed at the elfling's ear.

Elrond grunted, startled to find himself eye to eye with the cat. The cat rubbed gently at his cheek. "Who might you be?" Elrond asked in a soft voice.

"That's Selig, my cat." Laeste answered. "I am sorry, my Lord. She doesn't usually take to people so quickly." Elrond raised his hand and tentatively held it out a safe distance for the cat to sniff. Once he had the animal's permission, he stroked the soft white fur.

"She is beautiful." Elrond smile. The cat purred, pleased by the elfling's good judgment and proceeded to jump on his lap as he sat up in bed.

"She is also a good judge of character and it seems you have a fine one." Laeste smiled. "I have secured some leggings and shirts closer to your size." She set a small pile of clothes on the desk. "Please get dressed we are expected at the house of healing. I would like you to have a little breakfast before we go. What do you normally eat in the morning?" She half expected the little one to say that he did not eat anything, given that his collarbone showed so prominently at the neck of the nightshirt.

"Lately I have had tea and some bread in the morning."

"Did you like the feast last night?"

"It was wonderful." Elrond smiled.

"But the food was not to your liking."

"The food was delicious, though much richer than I am used to. I would have eaten more, but my stomach has not been well." Elrond admitted softly.

"Be sure to tell the healers." Laeste said in concern. "I am sure they will know a draught that will help. I'll fix you some tea and bring a light breakfast."

"Thank you very much, my Lady." Elrond said politely. Laeste smiled and exited the room.

After a little breakfast, Elrond grabbed his book and followed Laeste to meet the Healers. Noenri, an elf who had survived the second Kinslaying at Doriath, greeted them warmly.

"Young Elrond, it is a pleasure to meet you. I watched your mother grow up and even treated her several times when she fell ill. How long have you been ill?"

"My mother was ill?" Elrond said astounded. The Feanorians had always belittled the slower healing abilities of the Peredhil and admitting to having an illness in front of them had never been an option that Elrond could even conceived of. "I think I fell ill shortly before we left Amon Ereb about two years ago." Gil-Galad, who had just arrived in the healers room drew in his breath at that admission.

"My King!" Noenri bowed and Elrond followed suit. Laeste bowed as well and took her leave.

"Was Elros also ill?" Gil-Galad questioned.

"No, Elros has never been ill." Elrond mumbled embarrassedly.

"Come let me examine you. I have cared for a number of your family. There is no need to hide anything from me, dear boy. Anything you can tell us will be helpful. Even things you are not sure are related."

"Well, at first I thought it was related to an injury I suffered shortly before. Elros wasn't injured as often as I was." Elrond said quietly.

"Did you suffer many injuries?" Noenri probed.

"Yes." He mumbled looking down.

"Why?" Ereinion inquired.

"They decided it would be less likely that we would escape if one of us was kept injured. Maglor spoke out vehemently against it, but if I failed at something, he could not prevent the others from taking advantage of the opportunity. Luckily, it didn't happen too often." Elrond did not meet their eyes. Noenri drew in a deep breath in shock.

"Why did they chose you?" Ereinion said in a low whisper, not really wanting to hear the answer.

"Elros was their favorite." The youth stated simple.

"And the last time you were injured, these symptoms started?" Noenri asked.

"Yes, shortly afterwards. Though it might not be related. I had been injured that way before and healed normally." The elfling was suddenly shy and did not want to reveal any more than he had too.

"What was the injury?" Noenri sought to keep his patient talking.

"It was a forfeiture. I didn't spar as well as they expected." Whispered Elrond his eyes were tightly closed, as if by shutting them he could somehow deny what had happened. Over his bowed head, Gil-Galad signaled the healer to check the boy thoroughly. Noenri knew he was to report any scars or other signs of older injuries immediately to his king.

"You spar already with sharpened blades?" Gil-Galad asked incredulously, placing his hand on Elrond's shoulder in comfort.

"Yes, since many years. They started teaching us soon after we arrived in Amon Ereb."

"Child," Gil-Galad said gently but seriously, lifting Elrond's chin. "You did nothing wrong. You did not deserve to suffer such abuse. Here in Mithlond, we would prosecute people for such crimes."

"It was a slash on the chest. They always sting but it should not have led to the stomach ailment." Elrond said, he held out a small book. "I have been studying the healing arts with both Edain and Dwarven healers. I wrote down the symptoms and the treatments that I have tried." Elrond spent the next hour describing his illness and treatments, showing them the list of herbs and draughts he had employed. Gil-Galad reluctantly took leave, convinced that Elrond was now comfortable in the healer's presence. The King was already late for a council meeting.

"I leave you in Noenri's capable hands. Fear not, Elrond, Noenri has been a healer for over a thousand years, he will find the source of the problem. Soon you will be well." He squeezed Elrond's hand in support and left.

"I am impressed, Elrond. You were very systematic in your studies. Come, allow me to examine you." Noenri led him into another room and had him lie back on a bed. "I'm going to palpitate your abdomen and try to assess and locate the source of the problem. Please tell me when you feel the least discomfort and the degree of the pain you experience." The expert healer grimaced in sympathy each time he saw Elrond's pained responses. A spot on the left side revealed an abscess in the colon and likely an inflamed appendix. Elrond groaned in pain and unexpectedly lapsed into unconsciousness.

Xxxxxxxxx

It was many hours later when Elrond awoke, the pinks and oranges of the setting sun were filtering into the spartan room.

"Lie back, Elrond. I don't want you to tear the stitches." Noenri said in a soothing voice, trying to keep his patient calm and still. "Are you in much pain?" Elrond's eyes darted frantically around the room. He was fearful and disoriented. His hands clutched Noenri's arm tightly and the healer's heart went out to this little prince of fallen kingdoms.

"How could they have allowed this descendant of their beloved Elu Thingol to have suffered such a brutalized childhood?" The eldar healer silently lamented. "How did his brother fare?"

"Elfling, you are safe among friends. Do not fear. I am Noenri, chief healer in the King's service." Noenri could see recognition slowly filter into the elfling's expression, but the thin hands did not ease their grip on the healer's arm.

"Hurts." The youth finally muttered. "Hurts more than before."

"I am sorry for that, young one." The ancient healer soothed as he pried the thin fingers loose and held the boy's hand. "I had to operate. The pain will go away in a few days. I have found and removed the source of the problem. You will fully recover in a few weeks. But I am afraid that you must rest here in the house of healing until the sutures are removed. It will take about a week. Afterwards you must be careful not to overexert yourself until you have fully healed." Elrond looked up at him in astonishment.

"I will be fine? What was wrong?" Relief filled his voice.

"Yes you will be fine." The healer reassured him. "You are lucky that I have seen this poison used before. Your notes on your treatments were excellent. I think you have great potential in the healing arts. You survive because you found the antidote by trial and error."

"A poison?" Elrond said in surprise.

"Yes, likely someone poisoned you shortly before you left Amon Ereb. I can't be sure who would do this. I have met Maglor and Maehdros and I know that they would not choose such a cowardly method. Although I would never have thought that Maedhros would abuse a child. The poison is also quite rare, so it is likely that only someone trained in the healing arts might be aware of it or perhaps someone with a vested interest in making your death look accidental."

"But you said that I found the antidote." Elrond whispered in surprise. "Why didn't it work?"

"Yes, you found and took the antidote, but not before it had inflicted serious damage. That is why you appeared to get better for a while. The poison damaged your intestines, caused polyps, and an abscess in the colon as well as an inflamed appendix. It prevented the absorption of nutrients from the food you ate. Had I not performed the surgery, you would have eventually starved. As it is now, you will have a few weeks of bed rest, and you will be required to take healing draughts several times a day to aid your recovery. We will carefully reintroduce foods. Soft ones at first and add new ones slowly until you have fully recovered." Elrond closed his eyes, trying to process all this new information. But in his exhaustion it was too much and sleep overcame him. Noenri smiled slightly as the thin fingers grip on his hand eased. Sleep was indeed best for his patient. He gently positioned Elrond's arm, studying for a moment the thin line that decorated the pale wrists, then pulled the blanket securely over his young patient.

It was early the next morning when Thainren shook Elrond gently. He was shocked to see his little elfling so pale. "Laddie, it's time for you to get up. You don't want these elves to think you are lazy." Elrond lips curved up in a smile. He was still too groggy to open his eyes.

"He looks a lot worse than when I brought him here." Said Thainren accusingly. "If I find you have hurt him!" Elrond groaned and opened his eyes.

"Peace Thainren, I will be well. Noenri said that he saved my life."

"Is that the truth?" Thainren said seriously. "I knew you were thin and your stomach was bothering you but …" Thainren stopped not knowing how to express his feelings.

Emotions past over the Elfling's face: suspicion and anger at his helplessness. No, he thought he could not be sure of anything. Finally he whispered in an almost fearful voice. "I am not sure." Elrond's reply startled the healer and Gil-Galad leaving them both speechless. Yes, for sure nothing could be proven yet. Only Elrond's full recovery would be proof of a kind.

"I'll stay and watch over you, little one." Thainren said seriously. "Give me dwarves any day. Dwarves are tough and straightforward creatures. We have none of this cowardly use of poison. If we find out who is responsible, I will personally take out their kneecaps and other choice appendages with my ax!" Elrond could not help but chuckle at the image of Thainren hovering over Maedhros with his ax.

"Elrond, I give you my word that I too will do all that is in my power to protect you. You will be safe in the palace." Ereinion promised.

"You are always welcome in my house, too, little one." Thainren said protectively. "But first you must rest and recover. Did you know that they have a huge library here in Mithlond?" The elfling's eyes lit with interest. "I even found a few books in Khuzdul on the Dwarven arts of stonework and metallurgy." He pointed to the small table next to the bed. Thainren knew that books would provide the best distraction for this young one.

"Thank you!" Elrond said excitedly then added. "I would like to see the library. Is it far?"

"It is a little walk but still within the palace grounds. You can go as soon as the stitches are removed." Gil-Galad noted the disappointment on Elrond's face and amended his statement. "I will send one of the pages over later." He paused, thinking about who might get along well with Elrond. "You can tell him what kind of books you would like."