He bent lower as Estel's lashes fluttered and the young man opened unfocussed grey eyes As he suspected she would, Gilraen drifted into exhausted slumber within the hour. When the lady was so deeply unconscious that she was in danger of sliding off her chair Elrond carried her to a couch by the hearth; draping a light blanket over her slight form. Then he bent close to whisper in her ear, "He is the child of your flesh but he is also the child of my heart. You may leave him safely in my keeping for a little while at least." He laid a hand upon her brow, applying the slightest of mental nudges. "Sleep now."

Barely had he returned to his chair when Elrond noticed Estel's eyelids flicker. He reached out to touch a wrist and was gratified to find the pulse of blood stronger and less frantic than previously. He bent, scratching lightly at the sensitive skin below Estel's eye and was rewarded by another flicker.

"Estel, it is time to wake up," he encouraged softly. "You have slept long enough. The day is almost over. Wake up, child."

He bent lower as Estel's lashes fluttered and the young man opened unfocussed grey eyes.

"Well done. Do you know who I am?" Elrond smiled encouragement as he waited patiently for those eyes to bring him into focus.

Estel's lips made a couple of uncoordinated attempts then, "Ada?"

"Very good. Can you say my name?"

Estel frowned. "El . . . Elladan?"

Elrond smiled reassuringly. "Almost. My name is Elrond. Do you know where you are?"

The dark head with its fillet of bandages rolled to one side, taking in the surroundings. Estel winced as the movement caused him some pain but he eventually spoke. "Home."

"Very good. Would you care for something to drink?"

Estel made to nod, and then thought better of it. "Please."

Elrond removed the pillows and rolled him gently onto his back before slipping a strong arm beneath his shoulders. "It is chamomile tea. You have had it before." He brought the cup to Estel's lips and allowed some liquid to trickle into his mouth; relieved when he saw the youth swallow with no difficulty. His body needed the fluid. By the time they reached the bottom of the cup the liquid had cooled but Estel did not seem to mind and once he had finished Elrond returned him to his side. He was safer thus as vomiting was still a danger at this stage.

Keeping the questions simple Elrond established that his foster son was in some pain from his rib and arm and had a headache. But by the time this brief session of questioning finished it was clear from the increasingly slow replies that Estel was weakening, so Elrond allowed him to sleep once more.

He would deal with Gilraen's ire at not being awoken later. The lady had taken a severe emotional blow and needed rest for her body and mind to recover.

Elrond watched over both his charges for a couple of hours and was about to try and awaken Estel again when Elrohir slipped quietly into the room. The father in Elrond was relieved to see that his son had bathed and changed and appeared to be whole. For his part, Elrohir was relieved to find Estel well cared for and he paused only long enough to give his father a brief hug before settling into the other chair at the bedside. In deference to his foster brother and Gilraen his voice was barely more than a whisper.

"How is he?"

"Better than he was but not yet well," was all the healer replied.

"I am sorry, Adar. We did not expect to be attacked by so many and so soon."

"It is not I, but his mother, to whom you should apologise. Although I had hoped for more mature behaviour from my sons."

Elrohir only nodded so his father continued. "How are the horses? Did you lose any more?"

Relieved to be upon firmer ground Elrohir replied quickly. "We lost three on the pass and another one in the stables here. Rosson was badly wounded and lost too much blood before we could staunch it."

Elrond shook his head. "And your troop?"

"Scrapes and bruises only. Elladan had the worst injury and Erestor tells me that he has been tended and is resting. How is the Lady Gilraen taking it?"

"She is taking it very well, all things considered," came the lady's calm voice as she crossed to the bedside, reclaiming the seat swiftly vacated by Elrohir. "I believe your father intends to have words with both of you later, and when he has finished I shall expect you to attend me. I have a few choice words of my own to impart."

Although several hundred years her senior, Elrohir knew well enough not to come between a tigress and her cub and decided that whatever he said at this particular moment would probably only make matters worse. So he bowed to both and made a swift departure.

A subtle change in Estel's breathing drew Elrond's attention and he reached out to check for any changes in his condition. Before he could even touch his foster son, however, Estel began to grunt strangely. Elrond withdrew at once, watching in growing dismay as Estel's arms and legs twitched, like those of an uncoordinated swimmer.

When Gilraen would have restrained him Elrond held her back gently. "Let it run its course. He will come to little harm in a bed and you will not prevent it. Trying to restrain him will only put additional strain upon his other injuries."

Gilraen sank into his offered embrace; helpless tears forming as she watched her precious son convulse. Gradually, over several long minutes, the strange movements slowed and then ceased and Estel's breathing returned to a more normal rhythm.

"We will need clean bedding and warm water to bathe him," Elrond instructed as he released the lady and began a brisk examination. "You will find an attendant in the hallway."

If Gilraen wanted explanations or reassurance she disregarded her needs for the moment; running to the door to issue the instructions before returning to her son.

Elrond opened Estel's mouth, checking for any damage to cheek, tongue or teeth. By the time he was satisfied that the youth had caused no further injury to himself and that the arm and rib had not been disturbed, Lindir arrived with a ewer of warm water and an armful of clean sheets and towels. The three then undertook together to strip away soiled linen and clothing, making up the bed with dry sheets and padding the mattress in preparation for any further episodes.

It was only after Estel had been settled comfortably and Lindir departed that Gilraen gave voice to her anxiety. "I thought you said you had repaired the damage to his head," she accused.

Elrond rinsed his hands at the washstand. "I have repaired the bone and encouraged his body to clear the blood clot. But some damage was already done. As I explained before, the brain matter is very soft and pressure can kill it."

Gilraen sat slowly, tears trickling unheeded down her cheeks as she contemplated her son. "Is this to be his life, then?"

Elrond laid a hand upon her shoulder. "Convulsions are not unusual in these cases. But Estel is young and strong. They could fade with time. Often, when injured, another part of the brain will assume the functions lost, particularly with those of his age. He awoke briefly earlier and his speech was not impaired at least. He was a little confused but that, too, is normal with any head injury."

Leaning in to stroke her son's cheek, Gilraen swallowed back her grief. "You should have called me," she accused mildly.

"My apologies. You needed to rest."

"Not as much as I needed to talk to my son," she accused. But her words held no anger. "So we will not know what damage has been done until some time has passed?"

Elrond resumed his seat. "Until he is more coherent we cannot know whether any lasting damage has been done to his conscious thought or to the control of his body."

"You offer little consolation to a mother, Elrond."

"I can offer only truth and hope, Lady. For the present all else is in the hands of a higher authority than I."