Maiawë took the steps that wrapped around Caras Galadhon's largest and tallest tree three at a time. He nodded to the guards at the last flight of steps and burst into the Hall of Celeborn. He looked around, not really expecting to find Galadriel here this hour of the morning.
"You look to be on a mission," Emoth stated from his side. He approached the moment Maiawë's fëa reached out for someone.
"I need to see our lady," Maiawë abruptly stated without pleasantries.
'Escort Maiawë to my personal chambers,' Galadriel spoke into Emoth's mind.
"This way," Emoth said and hurried down the long hall and through a corridor with a ramp that wrapped around yet more of the tree, stepping ever upward. Before a door, Emoth knocked.
"Enter."
Emoth bowed his head to Maiawë as he opened the door and departed the direction they came.
Maiawë didn't visit this room often and a thought passed he hadn't been inside for several centuries. Ignoring his natural curiosity, he hastened to where Galadriel was standing before a table with many sketches laid out.
"My lady, it took all night of digging through scrolls fragile with age, but I found my notes. Elves develop a fever and chills for about a week with unfortunate side effects of liquid stool. When the Edain first ate the berries, they died and word spread far and wide not to eat the bright orange berries. They used them in poisoning their enemies. Over time encounters disappeared from our records until even we forgot. There is no written account of a Peredhil eating them."
Galadriel listened intently to the aged healer. "I'm sure Elrond is doing everything he can. There are ways to flush the blood?"
"Elrond is as a more gifted healer than I, my lady. I'm sure he is doing that."
"Then we wait. My mirror has been silent for over a week, so I am not allowed to know if my daeriôn is to die. It is as when Celebrían was attacked."
Maiawë listened to her tone of vulnerability and inability to change the outcome. This wasn't the strong Galadriel he knew and respected and he cursed his luck of standing before her instead of her wrapped in the comforting arms of her mate. All he could offer was medical advice. "Do you wish a draught to ease your burdened fëa?"
She lifted her eyes off the sketches and paintings for the first time and he saw tears glistening in her eyes. "My pain cannot be eased with healing herbs. I would rush to Elrohir's side and lend my strength, but Arwen would not remain behind this trip either. I cannot put her in danger so close to last time. Elrond is on his own."
"May I be of further assistance?" Maiawë offered.
She dropped her gaze back to the table. "You reaffirmed what my memory remembered. To sacrifice so much of your time on behalf of my daeriôn is noble." With effort she looked up again and forced a smile through watery eyes.
Maiawë bowed his head that he understood and departed. Normally he didn't pay much attention to those who waited upon Celeborn and Galadriel, but as he passed through the great hall, his eyes fell upon Azthêla. "My lady, a word," he requested.
Azthêla started when she realized who was addressing her. "My lord Maiawë; my time is yours."
"I left Galadriel in an unhappy state….," he started to explain and was cut off.
"Celeborn?"
"No, one just as dear though. I was going to suggest Arwen be found to keep her company today."
"As you wish." She watched him hurry away and wondered what happened now. Her first duty was to find Arwen; who she was certain was with that young prince in the paddocks.
She found them on horseback swinging swords at each other while the horses did a dance for dominance and flinched when Arwen took a blow from the more experienced Legolas that almost unseated her. Instead of backing off, Arwen charged her horse into Elneth and hit Legolas' ribs with the butt of Hadhafang5.
Legolas back off rubbing his sore spot. "I'm sure that isn't an elf maneuver."
"Someday I'll ask Melian if it is a Maia trick," Arwen replied gleefully.
"It's more of a sneaky, underhanded elleth trick," Legolas spat back and sent healing to his side. "Next time I'll wear my armor, as I insisted you do."
Seeing a pause, Azthêla called out, "Lady Arwen, a moment if you please."
Arwen grinned at Legolas. "We'll meet here again." She spurred her horse to Azthêla. "I am done." She dismounted and turned her favorite horse over to a stable elf.
"Your daernaneth is troubled."
Arwen reached out with her fëa. "I was so caught up in trying to impress Legolas that I didn't pay daernaneth any mind. I'm bathing and will join her for lunch by the lake." She paused to think and Azthêla waited patiently; for she sensed Arwen wasn't done. "Have the cooks prepare a salad and bread fresh from the oven. We won't need more than a light repast. I know when daernaneth is troubled she hardly eats."
"I can smell a bath is in order and know your daernaneth won't allow such aromas, even in the open air, while she dines," Azthêla commented and they parted to their individual tasks.
Azthêla joined them at the table upon Galadriel's invitation and they ate in silence, which was unusual, given the planning and making of Arwen's wedding ensemble topped all priorities within the city.
"Forgive me," Galadriel finally said. "I am worried and that is no reason not to enjoy our meal and company."
"Can you tell us?" Arwen asked.
Galadriel sighed. "Your brother, Elrohir, has eaten some berries that are fatal to men and harmful to elves."
"Oh no," Arwen gasped in horror, "how is he?" News of a brother in danger always brought anguish to her and one of the many reasons she lived with her protective grandparents.
"Sick. Also, your adar is leading the dwarves of Ered Luin to the mountain and they are camping at Old Ford Bridge as I speak."
"Let's ride to them."
Galadriel shook her head, "The time is not now."
Arwen and Azthêla looked at each other. It was custom for elves to speak thus, but not knowing what wasn't now, irritated both of them."
Galadriel suddenly gave a bright smile. "Your brother is in the best of hands, so we will continue designing and selecting gems for your wedding jewelry. Also, we must make a matching pendent set for your cloaks that is unique. I have some ideas."
"Daernaneth," Arwen's tone took on an independent lilt. "I am going to my brother's side. Should he die and I not present; I would never forgive myself. Don't give me any elven doublespeak. I'm leaving in an hour." She shoved half a hot buttered roll in her mouth, blue eyes flashing.
Galadriel took a bite of her salad and contemplated her granddaughter and if meeting the boy would change events. She wished the Valar would give her a sign, for she would surely make the wrong choice without their guidance.
"I could muster a group to leave in an hour if I'm allowed to go also," Azthêla slyly suggested.
Galadriel pivoted her piercing gaze upon her personal servant. "If we go and I'm wrong, events could be altered for the worst." She saw two faces drop in disappointment. "I'll make a deal with you. After we eat, I'll check my mirror one more time. If it imparts a dim future, we will not go. Agreed?"
"Do we have a choice," Arwen grumbled.
"Just in case, place Emoth in charge of my realm and ask Legolas to come with us."
"I'm done eating." Arwen jumped up and ran through the trees in a direct line to the city.
Galadriel looked at her unappetizing food and also rose. "Stay and enjoy your meal."
Azthêla rose. "I wouldn't with the excitement of getting ready for a trip."
For fifteen minutes Galadriel watched, half praying for a sign, but taking darkness as her answer and she started to turn away when it came to life. She saw her beloved grandson weak and lying on a cot. Elrond was looking at his medicines and shaking his head. The scene changed to a labeled container; at which healing house, she wasn't sure, but the name was printed and she knew the Valar was giving permission. She would go to Elrohir and comfort him with necessary medicine. She turned to find Emoth patiently waiting a respectable distance away. "I will contact Elrond and have him wait for us. You are in charge and if you need assistance, you can rely on Maiawë's experience. Rush to him with a message that Elrond requires medicines to treat and restore a damaged bowel." She brushed by him and raced up the steps; not stopping until in her bedchamber. Azthêla was present and waiting. "We leave as soon as I can pack."
"I already have anticipated that might be your answer," Azthêla confessed and pointed to several soft bags ready to be placed on the horses.
"And you know what I will need?" Galadriel challenged.
"I've packed for you for four thousand years. If I missed anything, you can fire me and I'll sail," Azthêla saucily replied.
Galadriel smiled. "I'll grab a few gifts and assorted jewelry." She snagged an empty bag off a chair and disappeared to the second inside bedroom.
Legolas marched through warriors he selected for the impromptu trip. He didn't think to refuse; although he figured they would end up back at his father's kingdom and forced feelings of dread to the back of his mind. He was working for Galadriel this trip was his mantra. He was nervous ensuring everything was perfect and they didn't forget anything vital. He watched servants lead saddled horses into the area and knew who was riding them so hurried to take the reins. "I'll check these," he offered. He checked cinches and leather for wear and made sure the saddles were tight.
"Your fastidious inspection of our horses is noted and appreciated." Galadriel looked around the paddock. "Did you only include horses from the Riddermark?"
"Yes. Emoth was most thorough in his instructions and Lord Maiawë personally brought a pack with your medicines. He says Elrond will know how to use everything." He looked at her attire. "I've never seen that pattern on a set of armor."
Galadriel sported obvious Mithril material, but the design was foreign to the younger elf. "The designs are common on the armor in my adar's house on the front and my naneth's family on the back."
Legolas watched her mount and got a good look at her back. The tooling depicted a city and harbor with swan boats. "I see Mithril is the material. What was your first armor like?"
"My adar commissioned my first set of armor when I wouldn't stop competing with my brother's in everything; including sports and weapons training. He placed his city of Tirion on the front and my naneth's city of Alqualondë on the back and I've kept that pattern, as it reminds me of home. The other etchings are representatives of both realms. It was one of a kind back then because my brothers only used our adar's designs."
Arwen and Bethíel, her personal servant, rushed to their horses.
"I'm not used to waiting for elleth," Legolas commented.
Galadriel flashed him a bright smile and led them through the gate and around the base of the earthen city wall to the north.
"You haven't said a word after shocking Uncle Garad speechless when requesting my presence for a walk," Gerti gently teased her companion. She glanced back to see their chaperones were her mother and Garad.
"I am using you," Thorin honestly confessed. "It was either you or that insipid lass, Arlie, that Uncle Fárin is pushing at me." He glanced sideways at her short, stocky figure and fair complexion. "You are the oldest lass and I'm sure father will choose you."
"I'm sorry."
He looked at her in surprise. "Why?"
"If you wanted me; I was available fifty years ago for the taking. I'll marry you out of duty to the Durin line, but ours won't be a marriage of passion. You'll thaw enough to perform on your wedding night and maybe each time you are pressed into a fathering another Durin, but I will never feel your arms around me on cold winter nights or have you laugh when I tell you what the dwarflings did that day." She looked wistful. "The ballads future generations will sing of you will be of growing up in poverty and working in blacksmith shops."
He snorted, "I would prefer to be remembered as a great warrior who took down Smaug and reclaimed Erebor. I'm sure my wife will be a forgotten name."
"Most dwarrowdams are, including Durin's. Your wife will have to memorize the lines of all males and females?"
"Back four generations," Thorin clarified. "Arli is already trying to memorize them to sway my father with her knowledge."
Gerti looked towards the mountains. "Rain is almost upon us."
Thorin looked at a wall of black obscuring the peaks and closing on them. "I better get you under cover." He escorted her to her uncle and mother.
"Fárin gave me ah dirty look when we strolled by his camp," Garad announced with a gleam in his eyes. "I pointed out ya asked my niece ta walk with ye."
"I'm sure he will repay in kind next time I'm forced to walk with Arli," Thorin replied and with a nod of his head to Gerti's mother, Gurni, hurried in the direction of the elves.
From the edge of elven tents, Elladan watched Thorin stride rapidly in their direction and intercepted his path. "Thorin, how nice of you to join us. We are about to eat and you are most welcome to share our repast."
"I came to inquire about Elrohir," Thorin evaded, not sure he was up to elven greens.
"He is weak and burning with fever. Also, he is wearing a diaper," Elladan leaned over and whispered the last.
"You seem in good spirits for having a sick brother." Thorin wasn't sure Elladan wasn't covering a mountain of worry.
"Adar said the worst is over, but little brother will have a bed in a wagon until we get to Thranduil's."
"He's going to be mean." Thorin chuckled.
Elladan laughed with him. "Adar thinks we will fight Sauron's forces again. He already commented to El that he shouldn't go into battle." He laughed again. "El tried to get off the cot to face him down and soiled himself with the effort. I know he will be in any battle and woe to any foul thing he encounters."
Thorin sobered. "We didn't know the berries could kill or sicken. Did you hear from the witch?"
Elladan nodded enthusiastically. "Daernaneth, Arwen and Legolas are headed in our direction and will be here in a day or two. Adar said we wouldn't enter Mirkwood until they arrive."
"Thorin, Elladan," Fili acknowledged them as he and Kili joined them. "We just got in from patrol and from the looks of the sky, just in time."
"We need to eat before it rains and puts the fires out," Kili stated to Thorin.
Thorin looked at Elladan, "Have enough for them also? And we will refuse if all you're eating is green things."
Elladan looked at the two soberly and anyone else would have thought he was sizing them up for a kill. "We have boiled orc."
"Sounds deeeliicciious," Fili replied smugly, while Kili smirked.
Elladan motioned for them to follow and led the way deeper into the circle of elven tents. He pushed the flap of a tent aside and led the way. Several elves were setting dishes on a table and even more were sitting on chairs talking softly.
"Good of you to join us, Prince Thorin," Círdan called out. "Boys, welcome," he added when he saw Fili and Kili.
"I hope we're not intruding?" Thorin queried and looked around. The tent was much like Thranduil's, but the furnishings not as garish and he guessed it might be the mariner's tent.
"Tonight we feast. Glorfindel shot a stag and our cooks made enough stew to feed elves for a couple days. I understand dwarves are pulling large carp from the river and other fish?"
Thorin nodded and took the plate of stew with a thick slice of fresh buttered bread on the edge and realized he was hungry and this looked good. Taking a seat in the circle of elves, he took a bite before answering. He saw the boys and Elladan grab plates and leave. He had a suspicion by the two Elladan was carting that they would eat with the sick elf. "Food here is plentiful. When we entered Mirkwood last time, there wasn't any food in the dense forest."
Círdan nodded grimly. There are mushrooms if you know where to look, but lack of sunlight and spiders drives most game away. We checked supplies and are getting low. The jerky will be all dwarves have to eat for the week it will take us to get through to the other side. I'm told if we keep going; we'll be at Erebor in two weeks."
Thorin nodded around a bite. "We traveled with far less when running from the dragon. We were so hungry; we ate moss, grass and weeds. We dug every cattail tuber we could find and chewed on them while we walked."
"We ate off the land during both major wars," Taíban added. "I've eaten lots of cattail roots."
Elrohir sat on the edge of his cot while his adar perched on a stool and fed him. He had a blanket bunched around his waist. "No chunks," he protested. "I want the gravy."
Elrond pushed potatoes and vegetables to one side and scooped thickened gravy into his son's mouth.
"When will this pass?" Elrohir whined.
"Just think of the paper I'm going to write with you as my subject," his father commented, ignoring the complaint. "Your daernaneth and sister are on their way and they can take over tending you."
"Oh no," Elrohir raised his voice in anger and heard Elladan and the dwarves laugh. "I'm not having them bathe and fuss over me. You I can tolerate."
"Thank you," Elrond dryly replied.
"You know what I mean," Elrohir muttered. "This is embarrassing and I don't want to have an accident in front of them."
"Your daernaneth is bring much needed herbs from the south and you will show her and your sister only love and respect," Elrond ordered; his tone and eyes hardening.
"You know I will," Elrohir sullenly responded and got another spoonful shoved in his mouth.
A clap of thunder hearkened driving rain without the gentle warning of a first few drops. The flap flipped open just as the deluge hit and before Elladan could move to reattach it, Glorfindel and Erestor entered.
"Galadriel will not like traveling in the rain. We might not see her for days," Glorfindel commented as he shed his cloak and laid it across a chair to dry.
"Do you want me to take over so you can eat?" Erestor asked of Elrond.
"He is done." Elrond looked at his son. "Sure you don't want a solid piece?"
Elrohir looked at the plate. "One bite of bread." He reached for it, but Elrond was faster.
"Save your strength, iôn-nín." He watched Elrohir take one small bite and shake his head and lie back on the cot.
Elrond rose off the stool and traded places with Erestor. He looked at the almost full plate, sat at the table and started eating. "I used to feed you off my plate when you were elflings just learning to eat solid food. That is when I could wrest you away from your daerodhrons."
"I'm sure Naneth was relieved. How she managed to feed both of us, I'll never know," Elladan retorted, his mind conjuring up a memory of his slender mother and he felt a pang of remorse that his actions caused her to suffer so.
"She got lots of enforced rest, like your brother is getting now. You know, forcing rest upon Elrohir was not unlike helping your naneth recover."
"Is he up to a short visit from me?" Thorin asked.
Elrond threw a look across the tent and Erestor nodded back. "Yes. Erestor was about to place him in a healing sleep, but he is still awake."
Thorin rose and stepped to Elrohir's side. He nodded a silent thanks to Erestor, who vacated the stool and joined the others at the table. "As highest ranking dwarf here; I offer an apology on behalf of the dam that hadn't a clue she was harming you. I have issued an order that no berries be used by dwarves for the remainder of the trip. They are to be gifted to my father for his personal enjoyment."
"Thank you," Elrohir managed weakly. "I swear I heal faster from an injury than this toxin."
"You don't have to tell me about the discouragement of being infirm. I've had my share these past six months. I for one, hope for my next calamity is death in old age."
"I don't have any hard feelings against dwarves for what I freely partook."
"And I'm learning to put my distrust and hatred of elves aside as well. My father showed me what true sacrifice was. He had reason to be bitter for us not searching harder and the years of hardship he suffered, but he doesn't. I don't know if I can ever be civil to Thranduil or his spawn, but won't hold the rest of you culpable."
"Excuse me, Prince Thorin, but Elrohir was given medicinal herbs that must accompany sleep for them to be effective," Erestor gently broke in.
Thorin nodded and left his side. He motioned to Fili and Kili to join him. "Thank you for allowing me to speak with your son," he formally told Elrond.
Elrond, now finished, stood. "I am pleased you no longer see us as adversaries. Thranduil, like dwarves, protects his own first. That endears his subjects to him. I expect no less of you when you finally reclaim your throne."
Thorin gave him a measured look and flipped the cowl over his head.
Elrond watched as they splashed into the soaked evening. He looked to where Erestor sat watch. "You three stay and keep Elrohir company. I'm joining Círdan."
Glorfindel rose and tossed Elrond's cloak to him. "I'll join you. Taíban wants a rematch of our game and this is the perfect weather to accommodate him."