"It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit."― J.R.R. Tolkien
Arrai whipped his head back forcing his horse to ride harder. "How, how is he?" He yelled to be heard over the wind.
Elrohir's face was ashen and his words were near lost to the wind. "Ride ahead get my father."
Riding on one horse over switching horses because of the weight and speed they were using gave Arrai a slight advantage though only by a margin. He whispered words of encouragement to his horse. "Saes we are very near he whispered to it mane. A little more and you can rest."
The horse whinnied in response and quickened its pace its hooves hitting the grass now heavily for an elven mount its breathing labored with fatigue. But that was to be expected as he had covered a near three days of riding after another short respite by the river which wasn't much.
A half hour ahead and he could already see the Rivendell. He rode through the roads falling to the ground in a crouch gasping for air. The startled guards ran over to assist him and after a few quick words with the captain Elrond who had been in the gardens with Arwen was by his side.
"It's Elladan, he's been poisoned. I've ridden ahead at Elrohir's behest but even now. I do not know…" Taking in the riders disheveled appearance Elrond's mouth set grimly his thoughts inscrutable. While Arwen paled considerably in fear for her brother.
"Describe the poison to me quickly."
Arrai followed Elrond to the halls of healing. He had not taken any of Elladan's blood but he described the wound and its symptoms in as much detail as he could. Elrond listened patiently face in a stoic mask of calm though Arrai new that inside that Elrond was tearing up for his eyes were full of fear for his sons sake.
His dazed mind was brought back when Elrond's hand landed on his shoulder. "You did well. I suggest you go rest before you collapse." The younger elf would have stayed but he was at his limit. Trying not to sway on the spot he headed to his chamber.
"Arwen." Elrond gave his daughter a meaningful look and though she was now ashen she quickly began pulling out herbs for the antidote.
Elrohir crashed into the courtyard a quarter of an hour later his horses feet simply collapsed under it in exhaustion and Elrohir rolled of holding his brother tightly as he rolled of its back and placed his brother gently on the grass. Elrond who was already back at the courtyard with a few of the healers took in his sons haggard appearance.
"Ion nin." His father's warm hand landed on his shoulder as he pried Elladan out of Elrohir's firm grip. "Ada! Please you have to save him!"
"I'll do what I can. Ion nin." Elrond was about to order Elrohir to get some rest but the command died on his lips when his son simply swayed and crumpled to the ground in a faint eyes closed in sheer exhaustion. With a sigh he laid the slumped form of Elrohir on the ground and had the healers assist him in dragging his sons foolish bodies into the halls of healing.
Elrond cursed under his breath as he examined his son. The poison was near the heart it was a miracle it hadn't killed him already. He made several incisions close to the wound and instructed Arwen to pull out several more ingredients. Placing a bowl he drained some of the blood. Now came the harder part. Rolling up his sleeves he prepared himself for a long night.
Arwen sat next to her brother holding his hand. Now more than ever she was scared. He was so hot, it was like attempting to touch fire. She placed another compress on his forehead. Please don't die! I'll never be cross with you ever again just please! All the anger she had ever felt from her brothers infuriating yet harmless fun as they would call it vanished. She just wanted her brother back. Please just don't die! His heart was beating too fast. She quickly broke more athelas but that herb had lost its effectiveness over him two hours ago.
She looked over to where her father was standing face impassive. Though he tried hard to suppress it she could feel his fear. Adar! Please hurry! Elladan moaned and she hurried her attention back to her ailing brother.
Being the best healer of middle earth had allowed Elrond to save many lives. It also allowed him to keep calm when others worried as he could usually save his patients. Strangely enough that being said Elrond had truly feared for the lives of others many many times among them being his wife Celebrían, that one time he nearly lost Glorfindel and the various times his sons came back from their near death encounters. For the best healer of middle earth he wasn't that much better off it seemed. He dipped the new paste into the bowl of blood. Nothing, he attempted several more variations until! He had it! He quickly mixed the stems of several flowers together creating a sticky paste which though having a nice scent probably tasted like grass and dirt.
Making his way to his sons limp form he quickly applied the paste. "We'll need to make him swallow some." With little effort he lifted his son and Arwen forced Elladan's mouth to choke some in by mixing the concoction with water and then making him drink it. Now all that was left was to sit and hope this was enough.
The fever held up all through the night and all of the next day. It was evening when Arrai joined Arwen in the halls of healing settling on the bench next to her as she held her brothers hand stroking it lovingly.
"How is he?" Worried eyes met anxious ones as he took a seat next to Arwen. She shook her head dark tresses unkempt from staying up all night. "A bit better, the fever went down for an hour then went back up, I think- Adar said this is a good sign." Her weak voice was not reassuring.
"He's a fighter, and to stubborn to leave us just yet." Arrai's reassuring smile had Arwen smiling thinly as well. "I… I feel like it was only yesterday… he…he stole the pendant Naneth left me…I was furious when I found out and then…" A tear slipped down Arwen's cheek as she spoke fondly of her brother. "Then…he brought it back with a bracelet and ring to … match… he had borrowed it so he and…and Elrohir could make them match…and... and surprise me for my life day." At this Arwen began weeping silently. Sighing and with tears in his own eyes he put a comforting hand around Arwen.
"He'll get better I'm, I'm sure of it." He whispered. One look at the two and Elrohir's face lost all color. "Is he?" Arrai shook his head. "He's still there, barely."
Elrohir ran a hand through his hair. "And Adar?"
Arwen broke rose as she wiped at her tears furiously. "He's making more of the antidote."
Taking in Arwen's appearance Elrohir frowned. "You should go get some rest we'll look after him." She nodded and went to her chambers as Elrohir settled next to Arrai resting his head on his hands as he looked toward his twin. "This is my fault." He said at length as Arrai wiped more sweat of Elladan's brow.
"It is not yours, it is mine." Arrai's unforgiving eyes met Elrohir's.
"I'm older."
"I should have been more level headed."
"You were you, we should have listened." The two stared each other down but Elrond's entrance had them both break the contest.
"Adar? Will he?"
Making his way to the bed Elrond placed a hand on his ailing's son's forehead closing his eyes briefly. A smile broke out on his face. "He will take time to recover but the worst is past."
An even bigger smile spread on the faces of Elrohir and Arrai.
Two days and Elladan was already attempting to string a bow. "Oi maybe you should wait you don't want to reopen anything." Elrohir plopped down next to Arrai who was observing Elladan and Arwen compete best of ten.
"I'm fine." Elladan grumbled as he loosened another arrow. Behind the two sitting on the bench Lord Elrond sighed coming out from the healers ward into the garden. "My definition of fine and yours are hardly the same thing ion nin."
With a sigh and under Elrond's watchful scrutiny Elladan placed his bow on a stand flexing his wounded shoulder. "Perhaps I should take a break."
"Perhaps is the wrong word." Arwen said frowning. "You're bleeding again." Elrond was about to admonish his son when an elven guard ran in.
"What is it? A patient?" Taking in the elves worried demeanor Elrond hurried to see what was needed of him.
"No…my Lord…it's an escort from Mirkwood. They say they…wish to see Thranduil's son."
Elrond's eyes widened. But how could he have known? Elrond hurried passed the confused elf and the puzzled faces of his children rushing into the courtyard to cover up the scene before all of Rivendell found of the truth. He was followed by Elrohir and Arrai. "Elrohir?"
"Adar?"
"Go make sure your fool of a brother stays at the healing ward and allows Arwen to rewrap the wound." Although both his twins were adapt at escaping the halls of healing Elladan was the more brashfull one. One time he had left barely even conscious. At least Elrohir had the decency to be half mended when he would make his escapes. With a sly look of understanding Elrohir turned on his heals to apprehend his notorious brother. Arrai was about to follow him but Elrond's hand stopped him resting briefly on his shoulder. "You must come with me."
The two emerged in the courtyard to an alighting fair haired elf. "Lord Elrond." The elf made a brief bow. Then froze upon seeing the prince eyes widening as he took in the likeness of the bone structure to those of the King and prince of Mirkwood. And though the younger elf had a darker complexion it was not hard to guess who the father was if one had lived their whole life in Mirkwood. The messenger appeared as if he wanted to bow but then seemed to think the better of it.
"What does King Thranduil want?"
The Captain's eyes flickered between the younger elf and the older one as if searching for the right words. "His highness has found of his son?" The elf was hesitant. Was it Thranduil who had hidden his son or Galion? He had asked little questions upon leave being in a hurry that he was but it would make far more sense if Thranduil had not known else why would he have faded as quickly as he did? Swallowing he put more authority into his voice. "The King wishes his son back."
Sensing deception somewhere in his speech Elrond's eyes bore down onto the captain who squared his shoulders under the scrutiny. "How did he find of this?" Elrond's voice was sharp.
But he was captain of Mirkwood. And anyone who could face Thranduil's wrath was quite capable of holding their own against Elrond half elven. "I believe his highnesses sources are none of your concern; regardless I am his captain I do as he says without him providing ample reason."
Lord Elrond was about to answer hotly to the messenger's insufferable bratiness but he was saved by the prince who stepped between the two eyes shooting a meaningful look at Lord Elrond. "If my father wishes to see me I see no reason to deny him my presence."
Lord Elrond's eyes narrowed and he appeared as if he wanted to say more but perhaps now was the time. And even he would not dare keep a father from his son longer than was necessary. He had wanted to keep this secret for longer but he knew he could not. The child had grown in relative safety and now he was a warrior. A warrior who belonged in the forests of Mirkwood protecting it from the darkness as was his birthright. He sighed. "Go with the blessing of Ilúvatar may he protect you."
Arrai embraced a man he had come to revere as an uncle and said a brief farewell to the twins and their sister promising a visit when he could. He would have lingered more and even stayed for the night but sensing the Captains need for haste he alighted onto a horse frowning as the Captain after passing the first few arches and bridges leading out of Rivendell suddenly spurred his horse to a full run. His eyes narrowed as he followed suit. Just what in Valar's name was going on?
Read and Review!
Ion nin- my son
Saes- Please
Note:This is more of a connecting chapter so it was kind of rushed since had to cover many things at once.
Doing research I just found out that Galadriel and Celeborn are grandparents to Elrohir, Elladan and Arwen. That's pretty funny if considering the fact that the two elves look just around their middle twenties. Hard to believe right?
Distance and Travel: It's around 400 miles from Rivendell to Mirkwood. Endurance horses can do around 100 miles in a single day, and elvish horses would be able to do even more, at a push. So it would take around three days on horseback with no pauses. And around seven to eight days from Lothlórien to Rivendell if taking into account the fact that they traveled close to the Anduin instead of in the plains or close to the mountains.