22 - Uncomfortable Meetings

"Good morning, Nibnadan," Thranduil said neutrally. "I trust you slept well."

The prisoner had obviously had little rest, although his cell had been furnished with a cot. His guards reported that he had also refused to eat or even wash. Despite the fatigue and hunger, the human knew better than to mistake the Elvenking's gentle tone for anything but hostility.

"What will you do to me?" asked the Man, wasting no time in revealing the reason for his uneasiness.

"I will have answers from you," the king answered immediately. "If not today, then perhaps a few decades hence. For your sake, I hope you speak sooner."

The prisoner trembled slightly. "Why would I tell you anything? As I said, I have completed my task."

"What was your task?" Thranduil prodded sharply.

A scowl was his only response.

"Very well," Thranduil said, hiding his fury behind a nonchalant demeanor. "We shall not speak of serious matters today. You will still not tell me your name?"

The crooked conversation was interrupted by the soldier Aurados walking briskly into the room. He saluted before the king and waited for permission to speak. At a wave of Thranduil's hand, he delivered his message. "Sire, we have received report. The Dwarves we saw on our way back from Rivendell had been traveling north, but last night, they turned back to start along the Old Forest Road, heading this way. Their numbers are greatly reduced. A small patrol has been sent to investigate where the others are."

From the corner of his eye, Thranduil noticed the smug expression on the prisoner's face. Apparently, he understood the Silvan tongue Aurados used to report. Did the Man hope the Dwarves would harm the Elves above what Unseen Army had done? The Elvenking's irritation finally surfaced as he furrowed his brows. He did not bother to bid his captive farewell before walking out of the room to seek out his advisors.

~.~.~

Thranduil observed many empty seats in the council chamber as he came to stand at the head of the table. Some of his advisors, like Berenil, were as yet too overcome with grief, having lost someone close to them. Others had ridden to the kingdom's villages to ensure that they had not been victims of attack. Still more were occupied with other duties. Lord Derion had been working through the night alongside Galion, helping to accommodate and supply the people who fled to the palace, and arranging the distribution of goods and services according to reports as they came in. As soon as Thranduil saw the fatigue on the faces of the lord and the steward, he decided that he would ask nothing else of them.

Lady Raegdis had also appeared, bringing her daughter, Ninniach. Raegdis' eyes were red-rimmed, evidence of the tears shed as she comforted refugees and the injured. Lady Anarrima seemed somewhat distracted, her mind obviously back in the healing rooms where she was due to return as soon as she was dismissed. General Cembeleg was stoic, and seemed the least affected by the night's events. In his long years, he had grown familiar with attacks in the night, comrades lost, and homes threatened. While the depth of his sorrow never decreased, he was now proficient in coping with such situations.

Thranduil cleared his throat as an unofficial start to the meeting. He did not bother to sit, given his intention to keep the meeting brief. "I wished to inform the council that a portion of the Dwarves my company spotted on our return from Rivendell has broken from their predicted path and is now traveling on the Old Forest Road. We will take no action now, as we have other matters to attend to at present. However, be aware that they may decide to approach the Elven dwellings, or the palace. We must have a plan if that occurs."

A half-hearted chorus of, "Yes, sire," was heard around the table.

"Do any of you have suggestions to offer now?"

A few timid head shakes informed him of the negative.

"Very well," Thranduil said, unsurprised. "Those of you with tasks to complete may be dismissed."

Everyone rose with a bow and quickly dispersed, except Lady Ninniach. Her deep brown eyes were bright with youth and sympathy.

"Sire," she ventured as she came to stand before him, "I had been helping to oversee the palace messengers in preparing supplies for the healing rooms, but they have long since been sent to rest. I wish to continue assisting the kingdom."

Thranduil studied her wearily, resting his hands on the table. "There is only one task I must complete today, barring the consequences of reports that may come in," he told her. "I will visit the families of my fallen soldiers and inform them of funeral arrangements."

Ninniach's eyes brimmed with tears, as the king knew they would. She was too innocent for such sorrow, he thought.

"May I accompany you, sire?" she asked.

Thranduil's brows furrowed incredulously. "It is much to ask of such a young heart," he warned.

"Please, my king," Ninniach said quietly, "I know I can do it. I have comforted our people in times of sorrow before."

He recognized the truth of her words, recalling her singing, encouraging the mourning refugees of a previous Orc attack. His head dropped in frustration that such attacks were still so common despite the Dark Lord's defeat barely more than three centuries past.

"Very well," he finally conceded. The young noble had the same right as other council members to come alongside the people of Greenwood in their grief. And it was right for her to recognize the sacrifices of the soldiers that ensured her own safety. He was distantly grateful to have someone share this unpleasant burden with him. However, it did nothing to appease the turmoil in his spirit over the harsh reality requiring it.

~.~.~

Elluin struggled back into consciousness, slowly overcoming the effects of the slumber-inducing herbs to regain her senses. First to return was the sense of pain, which made the call to return to sleep even more appealing. She also suspected a fever. But then came her hearing. She recognized Lady Anarrima's voice coming from a short distance away, but muffled as if coming through a wall. Though she did not yet have the awareness needed to make out the words, Anarrima used a steady voice and Elluin concluded that she was giving a report to someone in the hallway.

She wiggled her fingers and toes, thankful that the gestures caused no additional discomfort, and realized that she was wearing a loose shift and was covered with a light blanket. Finally, she opened her eyes and turned her head first toward her mother's bed beside her. Linalda's chest rose and fell, her eyes closed in sleep. Some of the color had returned to her cheeks, which comforted Elluin after seeing her mother so deathly pale.

All too suddenly, the memory of what happened flooded over Elluin and tears pricked at her eyes. She shut them again in an attempt to stop them from falling, but in doing so, she could see the monsters rushing toward her again in her mind. They flew open.

Lady Anarrima's voice drew nearer and the door to the room opened slightly as she peeked inside.

"Ah, Elluin, you are awake," she said gently, her face neutral. Her long years as a healer granted her wisdom enough not to act as if all were well. "Are your wounds giving you pain?"

Elluin willed herself to calm. "It is bearable, my lady." She was grateful Anarrima had mistaken the source of her distress.

Anarrima entered with one of the other healers who Elluin recognized as Gwedhil. Her kind brown eyes softened the stern command for Elluin to drink as she held a cup to her mouth. Elluin was familiar with this mixture that would help with pain and infection and drained it.

"I am going to change your bandages," Gwedhil told Elluin as Anarrima moved to Linalda. The healing herbs worked quickly and Elluin felt her head start to become clearer. "There are a few scratches on your back that I would like to check first. Can you sit?"

Elluin accepted the healer's help to sit and raise her shift beneath the blanket. She was slightly disconcerted by her own fatigue but recognized the lingering effects of the herbs and knew that the trials of the previous night would have also taken their toll. Once again, the memories overwhelmed her and this time, she was unable to stop the tears from falling. Gwedhil had been applying a salve on the scratches but stopped instantly as Elluin started to sob.

"My dear, am I hurting you?" she asked in alarm.

Elluin simply shook her head and tried in vain to regain her composure. Anarrima paused her work with Linalda and motioned for Gwedhil to switch places with her. The lady sat down on the bed beside Elluin and laid a soothing arm across her shoulders. She remained there for a long moment as the younger elleth cried and leaned into the gentle embrace.

Eventually, Anarrima sighed. "You are recovering from more than just physical wounds, Elluin. To be thrust into such danger, to fear for your life and those of your loved ones, cannot be easily dismissed."

"I am weak," Elluin managed to whimper.

"Yes," Anarrima surprised her by agreeing. "Against such foes in such numbers, and against such horror, there are few strong enough to survive unscathed. You bear the marks, both on your body and your spirit, and the ordeal has weakened you."

Hearing the truth in the lady's words brought Elluin some comfort. The event was tragic, and her reaction was no different than could be expected.

Anarrima moved to face the young elleth directly. "Listen to me. The wounds on your body will heal and the scars will fade in time. The wounds of your spirit may take longer to mend and will require more from you. The strength of your memories will diminish as long as you refuse to give them power."

Elluin processed the words. Anarrima smoothed her hair back as her tears began to subside.

"What happened to you was terrible," the lady continued, "but it is over now, and you are safe in the care of the healers of Greenwood. There is nothing to fear."

Elluin managed to nod and took a big breath to steady herself, accepting a cloth from Anarrima to wipe her face.

"Thank you, my lady," she said, still somewhat shakily. Anarrima gave her a small smile then moved to continue tending to her wounds. Elluin wondered passively how many Elves the lady had comforted in the same way over her many years, or even this day. She had regained enough clarity of mind to take a better account of her surroundings. "My lady, how is my mother?" Elluin asked, noting that Linalda did not stir as the Gwedhil worked on her.

"We gave her a sedative, but she should wake soon," Anarrima answered, not pausing as she unwrapped a bandage around Elluin's thigh. "She took a blade wound to her side that was rather severe, but her spirit is allowing her body to respond to our care. I suspect she will continue to recover."

Elluin released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Have you heard anything of my father, Soronume?"

"He is well, and waiting even now in the hallway to see you," Anarrima said with an apologetic smile. "I told him he had to wait until Gwedhil and I were through. I hate to tell you, Elluin, but you look rather a mess."

Elluin was thankful that she could not see herself. The perfume of healing herbs was unable to mask the smell of dirt and blood she was certain was coming from her.

"We had to cut away your clothes, dear," Gwedhil supplied. She graciously omitted the comment that they had been ripped to shreds by Orc claws and branches in several places. "We cleaned your wounds as we tended them but we have not had time to bathe you properly."

"How long have I been asleep?" Elluin asked. The light in the room came mostly from lanterns. There was some sunshine filtering through the light curtains across the single window in the room, and she was unable to determine the time of day.

"Many hours. Evening approaches," Anarrima answered. She straightened, her work finished. "You are healing well, Elluin. Tomorrow, you may go home, if you wish, on horseback or in a wagon. And then you must stay there and rest for five days, or risk your more severe wounds reopening."

"And my mother?"

"She must remain with us another two nights, but then she will be well enough for you to take over her care at home, if you both agree."

"I agree," Linalda muttered hoarsely, her eyes still closed. Elluin and the healers broke into smiles.

A/N: Not to worry - the next chapter will reunite our protagonists!