It was near lunchtime when Laeste came to visit. Noenri was speaking with one of the other healers about what his young patient would need. Laeste walked past them and sat next to Elrond's bed. Sleeping, the youth looked so vulnerable, and his features were strained as if he was battling some nightmare. Laeste reached out and gently stroked the elfling's head, humming a soft lullaby. The elfling responded in his sleep, leaning into her touch and calming. His need for a caring, stable home tore at her heart. In her musings, she did not notice Noenri approach.
"We should wake him to take medicine and if possible a nutrient draught with nausea preventing herbs." Noenri startled her. He was carrying a tray with the two cups.
"Elrond," Laesta called in soft, soothing tones. "Elrond, young one." She stroked his cheek, and he stirred and blearily opened his eyes. Confusion gave way to a small smile. Noenri and Laeste carefully lifted his lithe frame, setting him in a more upright yet not a full sitting position. The movement made Elrond groan in pain. Noenri carefully inspected the sutures and was happy to already observe signs of healing.
"I think your healing abilities are quite formidable. I see the skin already knitting together. Do you think you can drink this healing and pain draught?" When Elrond nodded, Laeste helped him with the cup.
"Are you hungry?" She asked.
"Yes." Elrond responded, his stomach growled. "I am very hungry." Laeste laughed.
"Of that I have little doubt. I look forward to fattening you up. But let us start with this simple nutrient drink. If all is well, perhaps at dinner you can try some soft but more solid foods." The youth nodded in agreement, but the first sips induced stomach spasms and pain. Noenri supplied some heated towels to gently warm the boy's stomach. Laeste whispered words of encouragement as she slowly coaxed the healing drinks into the youth.
The week of recovery in the house of healing passed swiftly. Thainren, Laeste, and Gil-Galad came to visit regularly. Each brought a book or two from the library, which Elrond proceeded to read voraciously. In fact, the steady supply of books was probably the only thing preventing the elfling from jumping out of bed and potentially tearing the stitches.
Noenri gave Elrond a book detailing the identification of healing herbs and how to grow, harvest, and store the medicinal herbs. The other healers often found themselves stopping by to answer Elrond's questions. Indeed, Noenri had yet to escape without having to answer a question. This time, he was checking the sutures and gave a small grin when he saw the thoughtful look in Elrond's eyes.
"Master Noenri, if the herb is less potent when grown under different conditions or stored different ways, then the amount of healing substance inside them must be different. Is there a way to measure how much of it is in a sample to know how potent an herb is?" Elrond asked.
Noenri almost laughed aloud. Yes, he would be able to remove the stitches tomorrow and send this inquisitive boy on his way. But there was no denying that the boy would return here with questions. He could easily foresee that this young one would have an impact on the healing arts.
"It would be very useful to know how much variety there is within different herb samples and how much of the healing substance there is in a given draught. Herbs grown under these optimal conditions appear to have very similar amounts of the healing substances within. So, we can be fairly confident of what doses to give a patient. We can only test its potency on a something living, such as an animal or a patient. But it would be very useful to find a simple way of measuring how potent a healing herb is."
Noenri saw the elfling processing this information and knew that more questions were not far behind. He decided the best strategy for escape was to change the subject. "You are progressing well, Elrond. I will be able to remove the stitches tomorrow. Perhaps when Laeste comes we will get you up and around." A large grin was immediately plastered on Elrond's face.
"I can not wait to be free of this bed!" He paused for a moment. "How do you know how many healing substances are in each herb?" Noenri smiled and ruffled the elfling's hair.
"That my dear boy is the subject of much conjecture and debate. I'll have to get you some more books after you finish that one. But now you must finish drinking the healing draught, and I must go check on other patients."
"I am sorry to keep you." Elrond apologized. "Thank you for the book!" He sipped some more at the draught. Noenri turned, suppressing the urge to smirk. Yes, the sleeping draught he had added to Elrond's healing draught would be well worth it. All the healers deserved a night off from the constant questions.
It was dark already when the King stopped by. Noenri heard Gil-Galad approaching as he was speaking with one of his most trusted councilors.
"Welcome, Sire." Noenri bowed.
"How fares Elrond this evening?" Gil-Galad inquired.
"He sleeps and should not wake until morning." Noenri told him.
"Is he well?" The King asked in concern. It was unusual for the elfling to be asleep so early.
"Yes, he is well." Noenri reassured him. "I plan to remove the stitches tomorrow morning and if all goes well I will release him. But my staff and I needed a break from the young ones constant questions, so we aided his departure to the path of dreams."
Gil-Galad laughed. "Is that ethical?"
"The young one needs his rest. He will likely need another week to fully recover and will need several months to regain sufficient weight."
"He has interests in the healing arts." Gil-Galad chided. Noenri rolled his eyes.
"I am well aware of his interests. In time, he will make substantial contributions to the healing arts. But given his background and the inevitable war we are facing he can not focus on healing yet."
"No that is true. But, perhaps he could come help an afternoon or two a week." Gil-Galad. "He is yet young, and I would that he had some free time to follow his own interests."
"I have no doubt that even with limited exposure Elrond would rapidly become as qualified as many of my junior healers. He is exceedingly bright and he makes connections that many would not see."
"He will become one of my greatest councilors for that reason." Gil-Galad stated.
"Be sure to ask him sometime how many different substances are in the ink he uses." Noenri smiled. "He devised a method for separating them and believes it might be possible to find out what things are contained in herbs that imbue them with their healing properties." Yes, the boy had great potential. "My Lord, when you decide who his tutors will be, please let me know. If my duties permit I would gladly work with the boy occasionally."
Gil-Galad studied Elrond's sleeping figure. He was glad Indiriel would be returning soon from Isle of Balar, where she had been visiting her Naneth. Indiriel would surely have some insights on how to best guide the elfling.
Xxxxxxxxx
It was early the next morning when Noenri started to remove the sutures. Elrond was remarkably calm and relaxed to the procedure, which surely must have been most uncomfortable. Noenri was surprised when the boy appeared so docile and did not ask any questions. The sight of the incision showed a little bleeding. The healer applied some salves to the area and covered it with a bandage. Cirdan had entered at the end of the procedure and stood quietly to the side.
"You are healing well. In a few days you will not even be able to tell that there was any incision there." Noenri said. Elrond did not respond, his eyes cloudy with a far-away look. One of the junior healers took over and finished securing the bandage and pulled down Elrond's tunic. Still, the young boy stared quietly off at something unseen.
"Elrond" Cirdan called, grasping the Elfling by the hand. "Elrond, what do you see?" The boy startled slightly and looked up at Cirdan.
"Elros is happy." He mumbled. Elrond stared off again trying to sort through the images he had seen through their twin bond. It was rare that Elros shared his thoughts and feelings so freely. He always chastised Elrond to be stronger. "Happy Birthday to you to dear Brother." He returned wordlessly to Elros, feeling joy spread through him at Elros' reply. He saw his brother unwrapping presents, surrounded by his loving Edain extended family. He was thanking them for the gift of a new bow. There was another present. This gift proved to be a new tunic. Elrond smiled as he shared his brother's happiness through their twin bond and sent a prayer to Elbereth in thanks. Their Naneth had substituted their birthday for their elvish begetting day celebrations in Sirion. There had been no celebration for many long years in Amon Ereb.
"Can you speak to him over such a distance?" Cirdan questioned skeptically.
"Usually I can only sense his feelings. I told him I was well." Elrond said before he realized with whom he was speaking. He looked up at the eldar elf with the white beard. He did not feel comfortable sharing his feelings with this legendary Elf as of yet. The Healer was standing close by. "Can I leave now?" He asked Noenri.
"Yes, young Lord, I release you from the house of healing. Please refrain from sparring and any other strenuous activity you dream of for at least the next week. Come back if you are having any trouble eating."
"Thank you Master Noenri." Elrond said politely.
"Come elfling. Let me help you to the palace." Cirdan coaxed, helping Elrond to his feet. The boy was unusually quiet.
Elrond did not know why he preferred to have his Birthday remain a secret. Gil-Galad and Laeste seemed very trustworthy and he had taken quite a liking to them. He did not know Cirdan as well yet but was flattered by the noble elf's interest in him. Somehow, he thought he would divulge his secret more readily to Thainren. Perhaps it was just a function of having known the dwarf longer and having shared more with him.
Cirdan recognized the boy's reticence and decided to encourage conversation. "Elrond, next week you must join me for a tour of our port and perhaps a simple trip around the bay. Indiriel, who is soon to be our Queen, will be arriving next week." He saw a surprised look on Elrond's face.
"Indiriel?" He repeated.
"Yes, she is Gil-Galad's betrothed. I think that you will like her, young one. She is swift to humor and very insightful. She is visiting her Mother on the Isle of Balar and is most likely busy making the last of the wedding plans. Ereinion and she will wed at the winter solstice. Have you ever seen a wedding?"
"No." Elrond answered shyly.
"Do you remember any of the celebrations in Sirion?" Cirdan questioned.
"I remember the solstice celebrations." Said Elrond wistfully. "Naneth loved to dance. She often pulled Elros or I out to dance with her. She pined for Adar's company and said that he was a wonderful dancer. But I do not recall seeing them dance. I was five when Eärendil sailed away to seek the aid of the Valar."
"Well, you must participate in the dance of celebration. Do you know how to dance?" Elrond shifted uneasily under the mariner's gaze.
"I remember some, but it has been a long time." He admitted. They had crossed over into the palace garden and Cirdan indicated a bench under a natural awning of climbing roses and Elrond gingerly lowered himself to sit down. The flowers exquisite scents filled the air.
"I am sure that you will enjoy the dance lessons." Cirdan chuckled merrily.
"Lord Cirdan" Elrond began tentatively.
"Just Cirdan, please." He instructed.
"Cirdan, you knew my father well. Would you tell me about him?" Elrond asked slowly. Cirdan related many stories of Eärendil's childhood and his arrival at Nan-Tathren and eventually how his family had settled near the mouth of Sirion. He told of Eärendil's entry into the shipbuilding as well as tales of his mischief on his first voyages and how his grandparents had departed for the West. He described Elwing and Eärendil meeting and their marriage.
"It was Gil-Galad who presided over your parents bonding ceremony. It was he who added the traditional blessings of the Noldor. I think it was one of the happiest days of his life. I stood beside Eärendil at the ceremony and added the Teleri blessing."
Elrond listened in rapt attention. His heart felt as if it might burst with happiness at finally hearing true stories at feeling a connection to his parent's lives. He felt for the bonds to his parents, taking both comfort and solace at the familiar emptiness and remaining pain.
Cirdan could sense the conflicting emotions in the boy and decided to delay any discussion of Eärendil's voyage. It was anyone's guess as to whether Eärendil had actually reached Valinor. The question of the fate of Elwing was even more mysterious, though the sea whispered to Cirdan that she was safe among the Elves of Aman. Cirdan's thoughts were interrupted by the low growl of Elrond's stomach.
"Well, Elrond, it is time to join the others for lunch." He smiled. "We can not have you missing any meals for awhile." He helped the boy up, and they walked slowly towards the palace.