melme Colle (or: hidden love)

Chapter sixteen Preparing for the night

Darkness. A headache giving darkness.
But finally it retreated to make way for light, which was worse. He groaned, unable to block it out. His eyelids closed to aid him in his desire and he groaned again.

Suddenly he became aware of pain throughout his body, though it definitely was the worst in his torso. He forced his memory to tell him what had happened and he groaned when he saw the gigantic bear again and felt himself tumble down the rocks, or whatever they were. /I must be in the healing house./
He groaned again against the light. /But they could make it a little less bright in here./

He now felt an arm surround his waist and a hand caress his face and a body laying beside him. He figured the three items belonged together and were probably Legolas’. Suddenly he heard footsteps and Elrond’s commanding voice. “Close the curtains. The light will be too bright for him.” Hurried footsteps as his command was carried out.

Elrond approached the bed.
“He has closed his eyes, Elrond.” There was fear in the voice coming from beside him and it was most definitely not Legolas’
Another voice, emanating further back. “He sends his best wishes and will come to yell tomorrow.”
“What?” He smiled inwardly at the disbelieving tone, that came from the person holding him. But if it wasn’t Legolas, then who?
“Aye, Glorfindel, he refuses to leave Erestor. You should have seen Gimli’s confused look. He’s muttering something about not understanding elves at all.”
Elrond grinned. “And that with the time he spend here.” He snickered again. “But I think you now have more horses to keep active, Elladan.”
Elladan grinned. “Aye, though I doubt they will throw me off.” He rubbed his butt in the process. “Voronwië is getting worse. Can Erestor ride soon, adar?”
Elrond nodded. “Aye, next week, but nothing straining.”
Elladan sighed relieved. “I will check on Haldir and then leave. See you, Glorfindel. Behave yourself.”
Glorfindel growled. “I will be nice.”
Elrond chuckled at the words. “Then let me check.”

The bed shifted and now Elrond sat on it as well. “Thranduil, meldir, can you hear me.”
Reluctantly Thranduil opened his eyes and smiled when the bright light stayed away. He looked questioningly.
Elrond smiled. “You rescued Haldir but tumbled straight into an empty river. You broke a rib, which might hamper your movements and you have added many bruises and cuts to your body.” Elrond kept his voice low for which he was grateful.
“Head hurts.”
Elrond narrowed his eyes and took the elf’s head between his hands. He smiled. “You did bump it quite often, I think. But I can see no sign of a concussion, for which I am grateful. The next time you wake it will be less already.”
Thranduil smiled gratefully. “Thirsty.” It was hard, forming coherent sentences.

Elrond reached and filled a glass with water. He grinned when Glorfindel grabbed it from him. “Here, drink.”
Thranduil looked startled to see Glorfindel, even though he had already established it was him. What he wondered most was why he was here.
Glorfindel smiled and handed the empty glass back to Elrond, hissing as he did so. “I knew it. You are still a horrible patient.”

He stood and smiled. “I shall leave now. Haldir is resting next doors and will be fine. Thanks to you. You saved his life.”
Thranduil nodded. “Impulse.”
Elrond grinned. “I know, you act on instinct and impulse in those situations. Heal and don’t let Glorfindel drive you crazy. If you want me to move you, let me know.”
The blond growled. “I am not leaving, Elrond, and that is final!”
Elrond laughed and left and only now did Thranduil see another elf, waiting by the door. He narrowed his eyes. “Haldir?” But that was impossible; Haldir was healing.
Glorfindel grinned. “Next door, healing, and that was Orophin.”
Thranduil nodded. “Never could…”
Glorfindel nodded. “Aye, they are hard to tell apart, even though they don’t look alike it is easier to tell Elladan and Elrohir apart than them.”

Thranduil nodded and allowed Glorfindel to caress his hair, though he did wonder at the gesture. He forbade himself to dwell on that now and welcome the bliss of sleep instead.
Glorfindel rested his head on the pillow again and remained close to Thranduil. /I will not let you go. When you are healed I’ll make you mine, for by the Valar, I am yours. For a moment I thought you dead and it pained me more than seeing Ecthelion die, more than my own dead./

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Elrond rested his head against his door instead of opening it.
Orophin smiled. “Don’t worry, there are healers there. They will ascertain if he has a concussion. Besides, he’s not to awaken until morn.”
Elrond groaned. “Neither was Thranduil.”
Orophin grinned. “Aye, but he’s always been different. And Haldir is a late sleeper. He’ll sleep through the night.”

He opened the door and steered Elrond in. “I think you need a warm bath.”
Elrond shook his head. “Nay, I wouldn’t be able to get out again. Sleep is what I need the most, but I fear…”
Orophin understood. “Nothing will happen. Haldir will sleep through the night, I assure you. Elrohir said he’d watch Thranduil and Glorfindel and he’s more than capable of handling the situation. And I doubt Legolas and Erestor will cause troubles, save for Gimli.”
That brought a smile on Elrond’s face and he allowed Orophin to steer him to his bed.

He looked at him and his eyes were warm. “Don’t go?”
Orophin cocked his head. He was sure this wasn’t what it sounded like. But then what was it?
Elrond sighed. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. It’s just that I don’t really want to be alone tonight.” He sighed. “I had no right to ask you to stay here.”
Orophin smiled, now understanding, and pushed the Peredhel to sit on the bed. “Of course I’ll stay if you need a friend. I wasn’t planning on leaving anyway. Guess now I’ll sleep in your bed instead of your chair.”
Elrond laughed warmly at the joke. “Do you want a sleeping robe?”
Orophin shook his head. “Nay, only a pair of trousers.”

Elrond nodded and made to stand. He frowned at Orophin’s push, making him sit back down.
“If you don’t mind, I can get it myself. You look about to fall asleep standing.”
Elrond yawned and nodded. “Left side. Bring one for me too.”
Orophin grinned as he already walked to the wardrobe. “Why, don’t you have one under your pillow?”
Elrond shook his head. “Nay, I always sleep naked.” He failed to notice Orophin’s gasp at those words.

Orophin’s eyes temporarily closed, forcing the unbidden images to the back of his mind. He swiftly retrieved two pair of pants and walked back, handing one to Elrond. He pointed to a door. “I take it that’s the bathroom?” Elrond nodded and smiled as Orophin moved behind it, giving them both some privacy.

Elrond stood and removed his robes. He sat back down and moved to put the sleeping trousers on, but his legs just refused to cooperate. In the end he simply snuggled under the covers, pulling the item along, giving it another try, but failing miserably. /Must be more tired than I thought if I can’t get my own body to do as I wish./
He turned on his side, so he would be facing Orophin when the elf climbed in bed, which he did soon enough.

He frowned when he saw Elrond’s eyes still alert. “Not asleep yet?”
Elrond shook his head. “I’m afraid I need some help?” He blushed deep-red and lowered his eyes. “My legs refuse to cooperate.”
Orophin frowned but laughed when he figured out what Elrond was asking. He grinned. “No need to do that on my account, meldir.”
He cocked his head. “Want me to hold you?” Elrond’s eyes were locked with his and he could read the need in them and see the insecurity. Elrond wasn’t even trying to read him to find out how he would feel about it. It showed how exhausted Elrond truly was.

He moved closer and pulled the other in his arms. “Come here, then.”
Elrond sighed and rested his head on the other’s shoulder. Feeling a body against his own after so long was pure bliss. His own arms encircled Orophin’s waist and his eyes closed as sleep claimed him.

Orophin smiled when he felt the sleeping elf move closer still. “Sleep, I will guard you. Always. Amin te mel.”

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“How is he?”
Glorfindel was startled to hear Elrohir’s voice.
The twin grinned. “I promised I would look after you. How is he?”
The blond smiled warmly at the twin. “He’ll be fine. Haldir is of worse, by the sound of it. Did he wake yet?”
Elrohir shook his head. “Nay, not yet, but Rumil and Celeborn are sitting with him. I think there’s something between them.” There was a note of resentment in the twin’s voice and Glorfindel picked it up.
His eyes hardened. “You do not agree?”
Elrohir sighed but shook his head. “Grandma just sailed. Ata is in limbo still and surely you agree their love was not half as deep as what my grandparents shared.”
Glorfindel nodded. “Aye, but I also know your father is unhappy, alone. And Celeborn always knew his wife would sail, whereas Celebraín’s departure was sudden and unprepared. Wouldn’t you like to see your father happy, pen-neth? And your grandfather?”
The grey eyes darkened in hate. “They have all of us.”
Glorfindel growled, his temper getting the better of him. “Watch your tongue, Peredhel, or I’ll cut it out.” His eyes spat fire and Elrohir swallowed fearfully.

Suddenly a hand rested on Glorfindel’s arm and the blond turned his head at alarming rate, fire still coming from his eyes. Thranduil managed a weak smile. “Seas.” He wanted to ask Glorfindel not to fight or at the very least do so with less noise, but he could utter no more.
Glorfindel instantly mellowed down and pulled Thranduil close, fully ignoring the twin, at whom he was extremely mad right now.
Thranduil smiled and his eyes settled on Elrohir. “Go to Haldir.”

Elrohir nodded. Thranduil’s calm and silent accusation hurt him more than Glorfindel’s anger ever could. He saw the hurt of a father in the King’s eyes and realised his own father would be hurt if he had heard him. And he didn’t want that. He wanted Elrond to be happy, but he still believed that happiness lay with Celebraín. And the fact his father still was single must mean he thought so too. So why not Celeborn?
Elrohir sighed and silently left the room.

Thranduil smiled at Glorfindel. He wanted to tell him he would never heal if he kept losing it like that, but his mouth stayed closed. Instead he simply sighed contented and leaned back into the pillow.
Glorfindel raised his arm and started caressing his face. Thranduil wanted to question the movement but he was too tired to do so and Glorfindel’s caress lured him even faster into the dream world. Glorfindel smiled and held Thranduil close.

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Rumil grinned when he noticed the movements that usually indicated his brother was waking up. “His timetable must have been shaken. He normally doesn’t wake during the night.”
Celeborn smiled and exchanged the chair for the bed. “I fear you are right, Ru, would you warn a healer?”
“No need, ata’da. I am sure I will do for now.”
Celeborn turned his head and smiled warmly at the approaching twin. “Of course you will, Elrohir. Both Elrond and Galadriel thought you how to heal. I like to think they did a good job.”
Elrohir grinned and claimed the now empty chair. The groans emanating from the bed told him the warrior was indeed waking up.

And sure enough, the eyes blinked and focussed. The waking state made Haldir feel the pain in his body and he groaned. Instantly a hand gently caressed his face. “Easy now, Haldir, you took a pretty big blow. You gave us quite a scare, know that.”
Haldir opened his eyes again and looked straight at Celeborn’s smiling face. He hadn’t expected it. /Or is this someone else and am I losing it?/

Elrohir smiled and stood. “You can talk to him later, ata’da. I need to make sure his brains aren’t shaken.” He forced Haldir to settle his eyes on him and follow his fingers. He also asked questions and the coherent answers pleased him.
He smiled warmly. “Well, father will be relieved. No concussion.”

He sat back down. “The soldiers say you seemed to be in a dream world and didn’t see the bear attacking you.” His voice was concerned and Haldir grimaced. “I saw but I couldn’t move. I wanted to, but couldn’t.”

He looked at Celeborn. “Phin? Ru?”
Instantly the bed shifted as Rumil jumped on it on the other side. “I am right here, toron. You scared me half to death.” He hugged his brother and instantly flared back when Haldir hissed.
Celeborn shook his head. “You will have to be a little more careful, Ru.”

He smiled warmly at Haldir and lifted his head. “Here, you need to drink.”
Haldir allowed the manhandling and was secretly relieved it was Celeborn and not his brother who did it.

He looked at Elrohir. “I need to talk to your father as soon as possible.”
Elrohir widened his eyes. “Why? Did you see something?”
Haldir shook his head. “Nay, nay, Imladris is safe. Please?”
Celeborn grinned. “You’ll get your chance, Haldir. Do you really think he will not want to make sure you are well himself?”
This made Haldir smile and he leaned back into the pillows.

“My arm? Why does it hurt so much? And why can’t I feel the other?”
Celeborn sighed ruefully. “You broke two fingers and your wrist and the reason you can’t feel your other arm is because the nerves in your shoulder are being squished. As well as the muscles. It will take a long time to heal, but Elrond is confident you will.”

Haldir smiled gratefully and his eyes were glued to Celeborn’s form. To him the other had never looked better. But his heart contracted painfully when he remembered their last conversation. Tears made it into his eyes and he squished them shut and turned his head away.

Seeing it made Celeborn’s own heart ache and he swallowed, now knowing why Haldir acted like this. He knew what he had to do, but he didn’t want to do this with the others watching them.
Luckily Rumil seemed to understand and dragged Elrohir out. “We’ll see you tomorrow, toron. And oh, Phin is watching Elrond.” His eyebrows wiggled and he snickered when Haldir’s head snapped towards him.
Before his brother could speak he had already closed the door and was dragging a reluctant Elrohir down the corridor.

Celeborn shook his head at the antics. “He will never change.” Haldir didn’t reply and feigned sleep. He didn’t want Celeborn to be here. And yet he did.
Celeborn thought him asleep and sighed. His admission would have to wait.

TBC