Light flitted through the open curtains. The linen swirling in the cool breeze, Lord Elrond moved around the room, gliding between the bed and his own makeshift medical table. Lord Elrond gently sat on his chair, moved from his office to this sick room, and gently lifted the washcloth off of the man's head. Fever burned through the man, his face was flushed, his breathing rhythmic, he had regained consciousness for only a moment each day. During these times he was weak, but when his wound got infected, despite Lord Elrond's personal attention, and fever gripped him, Elrond was unsure if he would recover. He hadn't gotten much information in the time that the man was awake, only the man's name and the fact that he was afraid, very afraid. The first time he had awoken, he was whimpering and grasping at his back. Elrond half leaped out of his skin when he saw the man's wide terrified eyes, the saliva dripping out of one side of his mouth, his silent scream. Elrond had stood useless as the man writhe, not knowing if it was the Dark One's connection that was causing the man such pain, or if it was simply some crazed nightmare. Now the man was stuck in this half-conscious state, awake but unmoving, alive but unresponsive. There was a quiet knock on the door and Elrohir gently popped through. He stood pensively in the doorframe, watching his father dab the wet cloth on the man's brow.
"How is he?" Elrohir asked,
"Come in fully, there is no need to stand in the shadows."His father chidded.
"Very well," Elrohir came up to the bed, gently caressing the man's limp hand. "How is he?" He asked again.
"Better, his fever has receded and his breathing is cleaner than before." Elrond handed his son the water logged washcloth and ice bucket before standing up. Elrohir took his father's place, gently washing the man's pale face. The early morning birds sweat song warbled and tweeted through the shaded room.
"Naniel," Elrohir whispered, gazing into the wild face of the feverish man underneath him. "Naniel," He called, again with no response. "There must be more we can do for him, Ada, we can't let him die."
"Elrohir, be reasonable." He approached the bed with a vial of golden liquid, "Now where is your brother? You two are usually attached."
"He is- I don't know Ada, I haven't seen him today. What is that?" Elrohir played with the man's shirt cuff.
"This is what will hopefully revive our friend." As Elrohir leaned over to get a closer look, Lord Elrond pulled away. "Now, remember when I explained how dangerous it can be to mix Fae and earth medicine."
"Yes Ada, this can't be-" Elrohir jumped back,
"Yes, and to answer your question, no I am not letting this man die. However, in order to do this I need absolute silence, I've already informed the house about this so make sure your brother knows as well." Elrond gently sat on the bed next to the man, and Elrohir bowed softly and padded out of the room. As he did most of the time he left the man's chambers, Elrohir glanced backwards, just in time to see his Father pour the golden liquid into the man's mouth.
As the door closed behind him, Elrohir felt his Fathers powerful Fae brush against his and he gasped. He ran as quietly as he could, down the leaf littered hallways, across the rumbling waterfalls, and up mossy stones until he reached the far other side of the house. Since the man's chambers were located in one of the many open cliffside rooms, if Elrohir strained his eyes, he would be able to catch glimpses of what was happening inside. He continued following the stone balcony until he was able to see through a part in the side windows curtains. There he saw fleeting flashes of his fathers deep blue robe and a limp pale hand that blended into the sheets below it.
He continued watching until he felt a sudden tickle on his neck. He jumped back to see his grinning twin holding up a twig of pine. Elladan stepped away from the fuming Elrohir, twirling the now defenseless needles in his hand.
"Come now brother, you have been ignoring me the whole day! I must get back to you, our annoyance scale needs to be even." He joined Elrohir, leaning onto the stone beside him, "In order to keep peace between the valley, you and I must be one of the same. That's what Ada used to say." Seeing as how Elrohir did not respond, Elladan bumped him with his shoulder.
"Oh, come one. You can't really be angry with me! I apologize, I shouldn't have startled you. There, now are we even?"
"Yes Elladan, we are even, just don't do that again."
"What has you so high strung? It can't be that mortal?" Elladan turned around, bending over the railing backwards.
"Yes, in fact." Elladan sat up in surprise. "Don't look at me that way, I'm sure he is innocent of any evil."
"How? What has he done to prove he is innocent?" Elladan asked aghast.
"What has he done to prove he is guilty?" Elrohir countered. "I think- something- he- well-"
"Don't tell me, your loins are burning?" Elladan teased slowly, before bursting out laughing.
"Shhhh, Ada requires quiet. He is healing the man now." Elrohir swatted at his brother. Elladan sobered up but still persisted.
"You can't be. And all this time you were chiding me on where my trousers led me, while yours had an adventure of their own." Elrohir couldn't help but chuckle at the imagery and Elladan leaned against him once again.
"Now I don't mean to tease, but Elrohir, what if he is-. I just want to protect you. Please keep in mind that we know nothing." Elladan clasped his shoulder before sitting himself down on a nearby boulder, and pulling a book out from underneath his belt band. They sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching as the sun loomed down across the sky, morning turning into afternoon and afternoon cascading into evening. By the time a servant came to light the paths along Imladris, Elladan set aside his book and joined Elrohir on the railing again.
"No brother, I do not love him. I am simply curious beyond a nature of my own, something else has drawn me to him, both in that day and even now. He holds a great future." Elrohir spoke softly. Elladan said nothing in return and felt no need to.
"Naniel."
It was his name, he remembered that much. Light and dark, warmth and cold, black and white, opposites collided together in him. Melding together into an unfeeling, overbearing moment, an overbearing name. Suddenly, gold flushed through the bright abyss, rushing in a stream of force that turned his mind around.
A weight was lifted off of his shoulders, the tension in his neck subsided, his eyes relaxed, he could breathe again.
"Naniel."
It was his name again, this time deeper, commanding. They wanted something from him. They wanted him for more work. They wanted to use him. He curled inwards, pulling away from impending pain, sheltering within the gold.
"Naniel."
Again, his name commanded him. But he was so confused. Commanded him to do what!
"What do you want from me?" He questioned, not hearing his voice.
"Wake, Naniel."
His eyes opened, his lungs breathing in the sweat air as if he was drowning for the second time. His eyes focused on the tall, dark-haired, stranger sitting beside him in an ornate chair. The stranger's eyes were closed, his lined face tired and pensive. He was dressed richly, a deep blue red robe hung down like a dress. His dark hair was perfectly straight, and across his brow was a circlet of gold. A green over-cloak was thrown over his robe, lined with the same pattern as a leaf, secured with a golden pendant on the stranger's broad shoulders. Tapered ears caught Naniels focus, and he stiffened. This stranger was no man, he was an elf. Naniels breath rose quickly, and he whipped his head over the pillow, searching around the room. As he did, pain bloomed all over his skull.
"Now, what has you so quick, young one?" The stranger's deep brown eyes opened and he calmly set an empty vial on the table next to him.
"Who-" Naniel divulged into a fit of coughing, curling over as darkness once again invited him back.
"No, stay awake. I did not endanger myself just for you to kill yourself over a coughing fit. Stay put." The elf gracefully rose and gently coerced the grimacing Naniel. The elf came back with a cristal glass of water, handing it to Naniel, helping him sit up gently and moving the pillows to cushion his back. Naniel's whole body felt like it had been boiled, his skin was sweaty, he was too warm, he felt so weak, his back and backside muscles twinged
"Drink slowly or you will choke. Where does it hurt?" Naniel tipped back the small amount of water hungrily, heading the words of wisdom, making sure that not a drop was wasted.
"Everywhere," The elf refilled Naniels glass again, only about a little less than half full. "Thank you." Naniel remembers his manners before tipping back the second glass.
"You drink as if you are expecting the mortal mead, don't worry, this is only water. The purest and cleanest from our glades."The elf took the glass away from him and gently placed it on the bedside table
"Where am I, sir?" Naniel asked carefully, wary of the powerful elf in front of him. With his weakened state, there is no simple possibility that he would be able to defend himself against the elf.
"None of that, you have nothing to fear here, I can sense your emotions. I am Lord Elrond, Lord of Imladris, the Last Homely House East of the Sea. My sons brought you here 5 days ago, you were injured." Lord Elrond sat back in the chair, folding his hands neatly over his lap.
"I remember someone calling my name." Naniel said slowly, "Someone told me to wake up!"
"Then you were less on the brink of death then I thought, that is good. Yes, you did hear correctly, that was me. I reached through my Fae to your Fae, which brings me to my question. Who are you?" The Lord sat leaned back, patiently watching as the young man's face paled.
"I am a simple soldier." Naniel lied slowly.
"Do not lie to me boy, it is by my good grace that you are alive, much less conscious so soon after your sickness." Lord Elrond leaned forward on the chair. "Let's try this again, who are you?"
"I am Naniel."
"Who are you, Naniel." Lord Elrond pressed, "While we here at Rivendell abstain from using harsher methods, I will employ them if you try to play coy. Boy, I have seen the mark on your back, I know you are in league with the Dark One. So tell me, who are you?" Tears welled in Naniels eyes, his mouth opened and closed like a fish, his chest tightened with repressed pain.
"I am…" Naniel began