The Healing of Elves and Trees

Title: The Healing of Elves and Trees
Author: Eliza 422 (eliza_422@hotmail.com)
Pairing: Elrohir/Haldir (eventually), Elladan/Legolas
Rating: NC-17
Summary: AU Story. Elrohir and Celebrian are captured by orcs. They survive the attack but Elrohir is changed. Will he ever recover from what he has experienced?
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JRR Tolkien.


Chapter 18

Elrond hovered anxiously over Anorion as the elf poured several drops of liquid onto the arrowheads. It would be several minutes before the test would be complete.
“Elrond?”
Elrond turned to Celeborn, who was standing next to Haldir. The injured elf was lying on a table in one of the Healing Rooms.
“Yes?”
“What are you doing?”
Elrond walked over to stand by his father in law. “We are testing the poison. The orcs – or more likely, whoever is leading them – have been developing a new, stronger poison. We have not been able to develop an effective antidote to the new poison.”
Celeborn turned back to Haldir. He gently stroked back the silver hair. Haldir had broken out into a cold sweat and was softly moaning.
“Can’t you administer whatever you have instead of waiting?”
Elrond shook his head. “Unfortunately not. The antidote for their normal poison only speeds up the affect of the new one.”
“And if it is the new poison? What then?”
Elrond placed his hand on Celeborn’s shoulder. “We can only pray to the Valar then. But do not despair – the new one has not become that common yet.”
“Elrond – I think the reaction is starting,” Anorion said.
Both Celeborn and Elrond joined the other elf at the table, staring down at the small bowl. The liquid on the arrowheads had started bubbling.
“What are we looking for?” asked Celeborn.
“We want to see blue, not red,” said Anorion.
The three elves waited anxiously for what seemed an eternity. Suddenly the bubbling stopped and the liquid changed color.
“Oh, praise the Valar it is blue,” Elrond said, pulling Celeborn into a brief hug. “Anorion, get the antidote quickly!”
“I’ve got it ready, My Lord.”
The two healers hurried over to their patient. Elrond gently lifted Haldir’s head so Anorion could slowly drip the antidote into his mouth. Celeborn stood at the foot of the table, his heart pounding at the sight of one of his dearest kinsmen so close to death.
After administering the full dose, Elrond and Anorion cleaned and dressed his wounds. He had four arrow hits and several sword wounds.
“We’ve done what we can. We must hope that we were not too late,” Elrond said. “Let us move him to the Observation Room.”

After settling Haldir into a bed, Elrond led Celeborn back into the hallway. “Do you wish to visit with your other elves?”
“In a few moments. I wish to talk first about Elrohir.”
Elrond led Celeborn into an empty Healing Room. “He is also in the Observation Room.”
“He is? But your last letter…”
“I know. Physically, he is on the mend, I suppose, but his state of mind…frankly, I don’t see much recovery at all.” Elrond turned away and stared out the window.
“Explain.” Celeborn moved toward Elrond and pulled him into a loose embrace.
“He…” Elrond paused for a long moment. “He stabbed himself this morning. He has been having nightmares that he is with child by those monsters. He is seeing Gailind everyday but it seems to have no affect.” He paused again. “I don’t hold out much hope.”
“Oh Elrond,” Celeborn said softly, stroking Elrond’s short black hair. They held each other until Elrond mastered himself again.
“I’m afraid if we are to lose him that we may lose Elladan and possibly Legolas too.”
“I see.”
“It was good of you to come, and I’m sorry about the attack on your party. The orcs that are left on this side of the mountains seem bound to take their revenge for what we did to their lair. They have been attacking with more viciousness then I have seen in many a year. I fear for all my people. It was probably not a good idea to make this journey.”
“Ah, but you forget that Galadriel had said we must come. When she speaks we all obey.” Celeborn chuckled and even Elrond felt a small smile on his lips. Galadriel’s word was law in Lorien and anywhere she happened to be at the moment.
“While we are here I will gladly add my elves to your forces.” Celeborn released Elrond. “Is Elrohir awake? I would speak to him if he is.”
“We can check. I must warn you, we had to restrain him. He is not the elf that he once was. I don’t know what will become of him.”
Celeborn stroked Elrond’s cheek. “Do not worry. Lead the way.”

The two elves returned to the Observation Room. Anorion was still attending to Haldir in the first bed. Elrond led Celeborn to the bed furthest from the door, by the windows overlooking the hills leading up the valley. The elf on duty had placed some privacy screens around the bed. Celeborn stopped before stepping around them. He turned to Elrond.
“Perhaps I should do this alone.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Be at peace. Go attend to the others who need you.” Celeborn gently pushed Elrond back toward the door.
“I will go see to the other injured elves.” Elrond turned and left the room.
Celeborn paused a moment to gather his thoughts before going around the screen. Elrond and others had written a reasonably full account of the events that had taken place, but the reality of facing his grandson was daunting. He had always had a soft spot for Elrohir in his heart, and the young elf needed him now more than ever. He steeled himself and walked around the screen.

“Orophin, stop fussing like a hen!” Rumil said, batting Orophin’s hands away from his pillow.
“I’m just trying to make you more comfortable, that is all. The healer said the medicine you took will make you sleepy, so I want to make sure you will have a good rest.”
“Stop it!” he squawked when Orophin firmly tucked the bed covers around his body. “It’s just a bloody broken arm! It will heal quickly!”
“You could have been killed, you dolt.”
“I’m a Lorien guard, Orophin, and that is the risk we take. We had to protect our Lord and Lady.”
Orophin sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. Rumil linked his good hand into his brother’s and squeezed.
“Rumil, when I saw you fall under that attack, I thought my heart would stop. If I was to ever lose you…”
“You won’t. You’re always telling me how stubborn I am, how I always get my way, right? Well I’m not going to die by the hand of some silly orc. Especially now that I see what fine warriors and fair maidens reside in Imladris!”
“How can you think of bed partners when Haldir is at Mandos’s door?” Orophin scowled. They had not had any word on how their brother was doing.
“I have faith in Elrond. He is known for his healing, right? Haldir will come bounding through that door any minute ready to join you in scolding me.” Rumil yawned. “I think I’m getting sleepy.”
“Rest, Rumil. I will watch over you.”
“You are Orophin, brother to Haldir?” A young elf, an apprentice healer, stood at the doorway of their room.
Orophin stood up. “Yes.” He didn’t like the look on the elf’s face.
“I was sent by Lord Elrond to tell you of Haldir’s condition. He was hit by several poisoned arrows and suffers from multiple sword wounds. They have administered the antidote, but he is still not out of danger.”
Orophin stalked over to the young elf. “Bring me to him immediately.”
“You are requested to stay here until his condition is stabilized.”
Orophin grabbed the elf’s robes and shoved him against the wall. “You will take me to Haldir now,” he said through gritted teeth. He shook the elf vigorously.
“Orophin, stop it!” Rumil said. He struggled to get out of bed, but the medicine to accelerate his healing was starting to overcome him.
“Rumil, lie down.” Orophin dropped the healer. He returned to Rumil’s side and pushed his brother back down.
“But Haldir – I have to go too!”
“I will return to you as soon as I have news, I promise. You must sleep and heal.”
Rumil took Orophin’s hand. “I’m sorry about what I said.”
Orophin leaned over and kissed Rumil’s forehead. “You did not know. I promise when you wake up I will have news for you.”
Orophin returned to the young elf and seized him by the back of his robes. “Lead the way.”

Celeborn slowly stepped around the screen. He stopped, shocked at what he saw. This wretched looking bag of bones couldn’t be his beloved grandson!
“Elrohir?” he said hesitantly. Celeborn took one of the chairs along the wall and placed it next to the bed. “Are you awake?”
He sat down and looked intently at Elrohir. From the wisps of hair on his head to the skinny twisted legs he hardly looked alive at all. “Elrohir?” Celeborn reached over to turn Elrohir’s head to face him. “It is your grandfather. I have come to see you.”
“Grand….father?” rasped Elrohir, cracking his eyes open.
“Yes, I have only just arrived. Galadriel and I came to see you and your mother.”
Elrohir gave a small grunt and closed his eyes again.
“Do you mind if I sit with you for a while?”
“Do as you please,” Elrohir said, his voice barely audible. He turned away from Celeborn.
Celeborn sat for a while, unsure of what to say. He had thought he could help Elrohir with his recovery, but now he could see why Elrond was so despondent. Celeborn had seen many elves die in his many years of life, and he well knew the signs of an elf who was ready to pass on to Mandos’s halls. The question in his mind was why was Elrohir still alive? If only he could get the young elf to talk.
“On our journey here I was thinking about the time when I went to see you in Mirkwood, and the letter your father sent me after you ended up there. He was so angry with you for running off like that, and yet so relieved that you survived the spider’s bite. He wanted me to bring you back to Lorien for a while, and ‘hammer some sense into you’, if I remember his exact words.” Celeborn smiled at the memory. “I was going to do just that – bring you to Lorien, I mean – but when I saw your face…you were so happy to be there I just couldn’t do it. It would have been cruel to separate you and Legolas. I don’t think Thranduil was pleased with the idea of you staying there!”
Celeborn stopped when he saw a hint of a smile on Elrohir’s face.
“I thought that would make you smile. You drove him mad! I received many lengthy letters from Thranduil imploring me to take you off his hands. He accused you of everything from disrupting the training of young warriors to morally corrupting Legolas!”
“Lies!” Elrohir whispered, turning back to face Celeborn. “Or, exaggerations, at least.”
“So you are in there.” Celeborn leaned over to look more closely into Elrohir’s eyes.
“I never forced Legolas to do anything.”
“I’m sure you didn’t.”
“Thranduil had us on nursery duty once a week! And kitchen duty! The elf was a menace!” Elrohir said a little more forcefully.
“He considered it necessary training for young ellyan. And you agreed to obey him while you lived there.” Celeborn smiled, gently stroking his thumb along Elrohir’s cheek.
“Can you get me some water?” Elrohir asked.
Celeborn helped Elrohir drink some water, then laid him back down gently.
“Thank you.” Elrohir stared at Celeborn. “Is there a reason you’ve brought up the past?”
“I had been wondering how could you possibly have survived this long, but then thinking about all you’ve gone through, I’m not so surprised. You are one tough little elf.”
“I don’t feel so tough.”
“Oh, but you are.”
“I feel….I feel…” Elrohir began to tremble slightly. He jerked his arm up, trying to free himself from the restraints.
“Tell me.”
“I feel…like I’m on the edge of a cliff, hanging over the edge, only my toes still on the earth, face down, looking into the inky blackness…and I don’t know what’s keeping me from falling.”
Celeborn didn’t say anything. He continued to stroke Elrohir’s face. He moved over onto the bed and lay down next to Elrohir, sliding his arm under Elrohir’s shoulders. The young elf was so emaciated Celeborn could feel every bone under the skin. Elrohir turned to bury his face in his Grandfather’s chest.
“And, I think I want whatever it is to let me go,” he said, muffling his voice against Celeborn’s tunic. Tears started to course down his cheeks. “I’m so sorry, I’ve tried to be strong, but it’s too much.”
Celeborn lay quiet for a while, letting Elrohir weep. He had thought he was here to help Elrohir recover, but maybe he was here to help him leave Arda behind. His own tears began to flow. He sat up to release Elrohir from the restraints so he could gather up the skeletal elf into his arms.
“Elrohir, I think what is holding you to the cliff is yourself, and if you want to let go, you should.”
Elrohir raised his head to look at his grandfather. “What do you mean?”
“Elrond has written that the reason you lived in the caves was your determination to save your mother, and that you lived after you were so ill because of your determination to save Elladan and Legolas. You have done what you set out to do – save your family – and now it is time to do this one last thing for yourself. Let go.”
“But everyone…”
“Don’t listen to them. Listen to me. If this is your decision, then I will make sure everyone abides by it.”
“You mean that?”
“Yes.”
Elrohir didn’t know what to say. He lay back in his Grandfather’s embrace, searching his face. He reached up to wipe some of the tears from Celeborn’s cheek.
“You say this, and yet you weep.”
“Of course. I love you and don’t want to lose you.”
“And yet, you would do this for me?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand.”
“That I love you and yet am willing to let you go? Loving someone sometimes means having to say good bye even if we desperately want to hold on.”
The two elves lay still for a while. Elrohir felt a peace come over him that he had not felt in these many months.
“Elrohir?” Celeborn said. “I desire one thing.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t make a final decision just yet. I think I have given you a lot to think about, and I will abide by your decision, but I don’t want you to make a choice just yet. I ask that you wait one week.”
“Why?”
“Your family will want to have a chance to say goodbye, to prepare themselves.”
“You mean give them a chance to talk me out of it.”
“No. I will not allow them to speak of it.”
Elrohir lay back on the bed. He hated the idea of giving up after going through so much already, but he didn’t feel that there was any hope left in the world. He had held on this long, he could wait another week.
“I will wait.”
Celeborn pulled Elrohir close again, fresh tears forming. If he was doing the right thing, why did it hurt so much?


TBC