This story is different from my others, I felt like writing something depressing at the moment... so, enjoy.

Chapter 1

Elrond raced forward as his sons rode into the courtyard; Elrohir slid off his horse, and rushed up to Elladan who held a limp figure in front of him. Elladan gently slid her down into Elrohir's arms. Elrond ignored the gathering crowd around them, voices filled with worry. Elrohir's jaw was clenched tightly, his eyes filled with anger and pain.

"Nana!" A voice exclaimed softly.

Elrond reached out and placed a hand on his daughter's arm, but she tried to pull away, reaching for her mother as tears pooled in her eyes. "Nana!"

"Glorfindel," Elrond called to the golden-haired Balrog-slayer that had come rushing up. "Take Arwen to her chambers, she shouldn't see her Nana like this."

Glorfindel gave him a nod, and came around sliding an arm around Arwen shoulder. "Come young one."

Arwen ducked her head and let Glorfindel lead her away, tears falling from her light eyes.

Elrond reached out, slipping his arms under his frail wife. She moaned softly, stirring a little. He turned and hurried to the healing halls, followed by the twins. Elladan ran ahead, clearing a path, and flew into the healing room. Elrond set her down carefully on a bed, and smoothed back her light colored locks of hair. Dirt and blood covered her, cuts running up and down her body.

Erestor came into the room, his usual proper manner dropped. He held a bowl of steaming water and set it down on the table. "How is she?"

"Not well," Elrond said. He picked up a rag, and dipped it into the warm water. He pressed the rag gently to her face, and slid it down, cleansing her face from the dirt, grit and blood. He turned to rinse the rag, and looked up at Elladan and Elrohir. Their faces watched him hopefully, filled with worry and anguish.

"How can we help?" Elladan asked.

Elrond handed him the rag. "Here. Elrohir, will you help me with the herbs? We will need many."

Elrond remembered the morning the news had come that his wife Celebrían had never made it to Lothlorien, where her mother Galadriel resided. Rumors of orcs nearing the borders had been floating around, and a few days before, Glorfindel had come upon a few with his guard. As soon as the news had come of Celebrían, the twins wasted no time to find her.

Elrond closed his eyes tightly for a brief moment, he had to stay strong for his sons and daughter, but one tear managed to find its way down his check.

Hours passed, and he never left Celebrían's side, tending numerous wounds and wrapping each in soft bandages. Elladan and Elrohir never strayed more than a few feet from their Mother, both eager to do anything to help her.

"Elrohir," Elrond said, raising his head at last and seeing his younger son.

Elrohir looked up at his Ada. "What is it?"

"Your arm, it has blood on it."

"I'm fine," Elrohir said, turning back to Celebrían.

Elrond reached out to check his arm, he jerked away. Elrond cursed softly to himself, he had been so worried about his wife that he had forgotten to attend the wounds of his sons. "Elrohir," Elrond said. "Let me bandage it."

"Nana needs help."

"Elrohir," Elrond said softly. "You can help her better if your wounds are tended to."

Elrohir looked at his Mother, than at Elrond, "All right." He stood and let himself be lead over to another bed, and sat down as Elrond pulled back the sleeve of his tunic. His eyes never left the motionless figure of Celebrían. Elrond washed the wound; it was deep, but it had already started to heal. He placed the herbs on the wound, then started to wrap it in a clean cloth.

A moan came from Celebrían, and she gasped. "Please!" She cried out, "No!"

Elrohir jerked up, and ran to his mother's side, Elrond right behind him.

"Nana!" Elladan reached over and picked up Celebrían's bandaged hand.

Celebrían's breath came in sharp gasp, she thrashed around, crying out. "Stop!"

"Celebrían!" Elrond came around the bed, and dropped down next to her. He slid an arm under her, and puller her close. "Shh, all is well now. You are safe."

Celebrían breathing slowed, and she sunk down against Elrond. "Everything will be fine," Elrond whispered to her. "Everything will be fine."

-.-

Arwen stood in her room, her figure unmoving as she gazed out her window into the night. Her arms wrapped around herself, she stood solemn and alone. At the sound of footsteps outside her door, she turned and headed toward it, hesitating briefly before opening it.

"Glorfindel," she said when she opened it and recognized the person standing there with golden head bowed.

"I came by to see how you were doing," Glorfindel said.

"How is Nana?" she asked.

"She...your Ada and brothers are with her."

"I have to see her," Arwen said, trying to go around the Balrog-slayer.

"Your Ada doesn't want you to see her like this."

"I have to!" Arwen gasped out, trying to hold back her tears.

"Arwen…" Glorfindel's lips tightened. "I will ask if you can see her."

"Thank you," Arwen said. She gave him a small smile, and stepped back into the room. Glorfindel turned, and disappeared down the hall.

Arwen waited a couple minutes, then picked up her cloak that was draped over a chair. She swung it around her shoulders, and pulled the hood up, placing her face in shadow. Opening the door, she was relieved to see no one in sight.

She hurried down the hall, holding herself back from running, which would draw attention to herself. It seemed to take forever to reach the healing halls, but she finally arrived. She slipped inside, and the first thing she saw was her Nana laying on the bed. Forgetting everything, she rushed to Celebrían's side, and dropped down next to her. Her mouth dropped in horror at the sight of what the orcs had done to her.

"Nana! Oh, Nana! How could anyone do something so terrible?!" She reached out, brushing Celebrían's face. Bandages were all over her, stained red from her blood.

"Arwen!"

She felt Elrond pull her to her feet. "I wish you had not come."

"I had to see her," Arwen said. "Please! Let me stay."

Elrond sighed. "You may stay, for a while."

"Thank you," Arwen whispered, then came back down by Celebrían. "Nana, please come back to us."

Thank you for reading, and please review! :)