melme Colle (or: hidden love)

Chapter eighteen The healing starts

Glorfindel woke when the door opened and elves walked in. Raising his head he smiled at Elrond. “I’m fine.” He smiled at Elrond’s expression. “And yes, I am behaving. I haven’t left the bed.” His eyes darted to the sleeping elf and Elrond grinned, realising Elladan had been right.

He sat down. “And Thranduil? Elladan said he’s in too much pain?”
Glorfindel nodded. “Aye, it made him cry.”
Legolas gasped and went to the headboard and picked some strands to play with. “Ai, Adar.”
Elrond smiled at Legolas. “He will heal, I promise.” He sighed. “Wake him and see if it is as bad still.”
Legolas nodded and sat down on Thranduil’s other side. “Adar, wake up. It is I: Legolas. Lord Elrond wants to examine you again. Adar.”

Reluctantly awareness returned to Thranduil and he smiled, seeing Glorfindel’s chest in front of him. He inhaled deeply, instantly regretting the motion for his chest exploded with pain and he stifled a yelp.
“Adar? Adar, are you in pain?”
Thranduil lifted his head and cocked it a little, so he could see his son and smile at him. “You came to yell?”
Legolas grinned but shook his head. “I shall wait till you are better. Are you in pain?”
Thranduil knew he couldn’t lie to Legolas and he nodded. “It’s bearable now that I am on my side and have this bandage around me.”

Elrond hovered his hand above Thranduil’s torso and shook his head. Something wasn’t right. Without warning he turned into himself and released his energy into Thranduil, who gasped at the sensation. His eyes instantly located Elrond and saw he was correct.
It lasted only a minute and then Elrond went back to himself. He smiled and shook his head, already hearing Elladan’s scolding. He was glad he was sitting down.

“Your rib has splintered. That caused the extreme pain. I’ve placed them back on the bone, so you should be in a lot less pain.”
Thranduil nodded. “Aye, I don’t feel anything anymore. But I won’t be able to sleep on my back, will I?”
Elrond shook his head. “Nay, that is possible, but I prefer to leave you like this. You make our seneschal behave, for which every healer is more than grateful.”
Thranduil smiled and looked at Glorfindel. “Well, it looks like you will have to continue holding me for a few more days, if not longer.”
Glorfindel beamed. “No objections here. I like it.”
Elrond laughed freely. “Thranduil isn’t a toy or a ice-cream.”
Glorfindel grinned. “No, indeed not, Elrond. For neither of those can bind and gag you.” He shrugged. “But I like it none the less.”
Thranduil shook his head and mirth was visible in his eyes.

Elrond sighed. “Well, I have to go check on Haldir now. But I’ll stop by later.”
Glorfindel nodded and smiled at him. “Don’t forget Erestor.”
Elrond smiled. “I trust Gimli to look after him.”
Legolas nodded. “Aye, Erestor won’t be able to outsmart him.”

He leaned against his father. “Now I know how you felt every time I was injured.”
Thranduil smiled and rested his head on his son’s shoulder. “Aiya, ion-nin, I am sorry for worrying you.”
Legolas shook his head. “Nay, you’ll be better. And I’ll be more careful in the future.”
Thranduil grinned. “I had hoped Erestor was enough incentive to do that.”
Legolas’ eyes filled with love. “Of course he is; you know what I mean.”
Thranduil laughed. “You stopped falling out of trees and off of horses a long time ago, ion-nin.” Legolas blushed and Glorfindel grinned at those words.

He looked up apologetically. “I am sorry, Legolas, but I am getting thirsty and I can’t leave the bed yet.”
Legolas smiled in understanding and carefully disentangled himself from his father to fetch a water carafe and three glasses. “Do you mind me staying here a while? Erestor is in the study with Gimli making sure he only gives out orders.”
Thranduil grinned. “And you don’t want one of those to be directed to you.” He smiled and nodded. “I’d love for you to stay. It feels kind of protected, being wedged between elves.”
Legolas smiled and happily reclaimed his former position and helped the other two empty their glasses.

They talked for a while but soon sleep claimed the healing elves again and Legolas sat on the bed, holding his father and watching the two sleep. He wondered about Glorfindel, but doubted he would take advantage of his father. And even if he would try anything, even a wounded Thranduil was capable of besting healthy elves. So he had no worries there. But Legolas did worry about the changed behaviour of the blond seneschal.

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Haldir reopened his eyes when he heard the door open. For hours he had lain awake, his face away from Celeborn. He smiled when he recognized his brothers’ footsteps.

Celeborn stirred and woke, having fallen asleep. He smiled at Rumil and Orophin and stood to embrace them tightly. “Orophin, I have seen you here yet. I almost feared you’d been injured as well.”
Orophin grinned and shook his head. “Nay, I merely figured Haldir wouldn’t wake in the middle of the night.”
Rumil grinned. “As did I, toron, but our brother’s timetable appears to be shaken. See, he sleeps still.”
Haldir growled. “Watch it, you. It is not beneath me to hurt you.”
Rumil grinned and sat on the bed, restraining himself from hugging him this time. “How do you feel? Lord Elrond is now checking up on Glorfindel and Thranduil, but he’ll be here soon and then he’ll look at you.”
Haldir grimaced. “It’s awkward, not feeling my arm.”
“Well, don’t try to force it, Haldir.”

Celeborn looked at him and frowned when he saw the silver strains on his cheeks. /Aiya, it does affect him. I had forgotten how he loves to shoot his bow. He must fear never being able to do that./
He sat down and placed some wayward strands back. He noticed Haldir recoil from the touch but ignored it for now. “Elrond has assured me you will fully heal, that includes regaining the mobility in that arm. I’ll bet that you can use it before you can use your wrist or fingers.”
Orophin smiled and sat down as well. “Aye, I think so too.” He grinned. “I told Elrond it was safe to sleep, that you wouldn’t wake during the night.” He shook his head. “And what do you do? You wake up.”
Haldir smiled. Even though it was a joke Haldir saw the love the other bore him, with the one he bore Elrond behind it, but now he feared his brother would get hurt as well. What if Elrond rejected him?

Feeling Haldir’s sadness Orophin and Rumil laid down on the bed and held their brother. Celeborn smiled at the picture and kept his distance. /You ran because I rejected you. But I wouldn’t have had I known. Aiya, Elbereth, don’t let me have wasted this, make that this hadn’t been the only opportunity I had./

Elrond shook his head as he entered. “I am sorry to disturb the family bonding, but I would like to examine you, Haldir. Elrohir has already told me you do not have a concussion, which I feared, but I would like to take a look at your other wounds. See if I cannot do something to speed up the healing or lessen the pain.”
Haldir smiled and looked at him with hope.

Elrond sat down and hovered his hands over Haldir’s body.
After a while he sighed. “I can speed up the healing, Haldir, but it will still take months to heal. I will give you herbs to heighten your healing energy.” He cocked his head. “Two sessions, I think, are necessary. One for your fingers and one for your shoulder. But I cannot do them together. I will need to replenish my own energy before even trying the second session. Which would you have me do first?”
Haldir looked at him with determination. “My shoulder. I hate not feeling my arm.”
Elrond nodded, having anticipated the answer. “You will need to lie on you belly. Would you help me turn him around?”
Celeborn and Rumil were besides him instantly and together they swiftly, and without adding pain to Haldir, turned him over.

Elrond sighed and stood, looking at Orophin.
Orophin frowned. “Is there anything you need?”
Elrond shook his head and sighed, turning back to the bed. He could not ask this of Orophin. The warrior had already given so much of his time to him and he no doubt preferred to stay with his brother now.

Celeborn smiled in understanding. “Ru, Phin, we have to be ready to catch Elrond. A healing session always drains him. He will need to rest for at least two hours in a row.”
Orophin nodded; he would make sure nothing disturbed his rest.

Suddenly Elrond groaned. “The papers. The chaos.”
Rumil grinned. “I believe Erestor was seeing to that? I can go tell him there’s more, if you want?”
Elrond shook his head and sighed. Haldir came first.

He withdrew and focussed his essence on Haldir’s shoulder. The warrior passed out from the pain but the bones were shifted to their normal position and gave the muscles and nerves their freedom back. It would be tense and sensitive for a while, but at least Haldir would be able to slowly start using it.
Elrond smiled and withdrew. He nodded. The session was successful. “He can’t use it yet or it’ll set him back.” That was all he could say before his eyes rolled back and he passed out.

Orophin instantly caught him, a worried look on his face. /Elladan was speaking lightly./ He lifted the Peredhel in his arms and looked at his brother. “Take care of him.”
Celeborn nodded. “Off course. You look after him.” Orophin smiled and left.
Rumil sighed and followed his brother out. “I’d better let Erestor know.”

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Gimli grinned, seeing the counsellors and advisors carry out Erestor’s instructions. The Imladrian elves had been pleased to see him back and warmly welcomed him before setting him down. They agreed with the Dwarf; Erestor was not to do a thing. It was nothing short of a miracle that he was still alive and they knew Elrond would not have allowed anyone else to return to semi-duty already.

The other advisors stared at them open-mouthed before they realised the Imladrian elves were completely tuned in on each other. That alone was the sole reason Imladris wasn’t covered in complete chaos. But it made it hard for the others to pick up the system; it had been so since the beginning and they felt left out.

Erestor now looked at a list of names: all scribes and advisors. He too realised everybody has been working next to each other, creating chaos and disorder. That Imladris still stood was, to him, due to Celeborn’s and Thranduil’s expertise and nothing else.

He sighed. “Melpomean!”
The elf instantly kneeled beside him. “Yes, counsellor, what can I do?”
Erestor smiled warmly at him. “I want you to work out a new list.”

He cleared his throat and looked at Gimli. The Dwarf understood and hit his axe against the metal, making it quiet instantly.

Erestor smiled appreciative before addressing the others. “You have made a mess of things. I am shocked and appalled. Surely you don’t want our lords to spend their time undoing your screw ups?”
His eyes blazed with fire and he stood. “From now on everybody that isn’t from Imladris to begin with will work under us. We already know how to work and what needs to be done how. The Imladrian counsellors will remain in the position they had, but will be responsible for and teach the counsellors under them. That means that for instance you, Sealbeth, will have to guide and control the suppliers. And you, Tamor, will still be head of the scribes. “There are some areas where we don’t need more than one or two counsellors, so either the rest will have to take a step down or transfer. Please think on it and let Melpomean know what you want. But think swift, the list has to be ready by the end of the week.”

He sat back down and returned his attention to Melpomean. “Find out what areas need what.” Seeing Melpomean’s horrid look he smiled. “Meaning how many secretaries and to whom, how many counsellors and advisors and scribes.”
Melpomean nodded. “There are way too many scribes and assistants, Erestor. What do I do?”
Erestor sighed. “We will talk later: Legolas, Elrond, Celeborn and I. We can make the hierarchy based on their preferences and our knowledge of their skills. We cannot allow quality to go to waste.”

He looked questioningly when a young elf stepped forward.
“My lord counsellor, if I may?” Erestor nodded and the elf sighed. “I’ve always assisted Lord Celeborn’s head Domestics”
Erestor smiled. “I cannot promise it will be possible to continue…”
The elf shook his head and quickly intervened. “Nay, my lord, I would rather turn to the library instead. I don’t mind starting as a scribe, as long as I am around the books and am allowed to read them.”
Erestor smiled, seeing the desire in his eyes. He nodded. “I can never have too much scribes there. Consider yourself transferred then.”

He gasped. “Oh, Melpomean? Find out who would be suitable as chief librarian. Ours sailed.”
Melpomean nodded and grinned. “His secretary has taken it upon himself to make sure nothing changed in the system. He has made sure a old scribe was standing behind a new scribe to correct the errors. Many went away and are now learning a new occupation.”
Erestor smiled. “Well, maybe him?”
Melpomean shook his head. “Nay, he refused. He doesn’t want to leave nor does he mind temporarily doing it, but he is happy being a secretary. He says it is more entertaining.”
Erestor grinned. “Well, make sure this new elf is starting today. And I guess we don’t have to hurry finding a new chief librarian.”

He smiled and stood, pointing to the pile he has made the others sort out. “Now that everything is sorted out, make sure it doesn’t get mixed again. And all urgent matters go to either Glorfindel, me or Elrond. If we are in any way incapable of assisting you, go to Celeborn or Thranduil. Please, don’t see my words from now and before as a denigration of you or your skills, but merely as a statement, for the elves that have been here all their lives know how things are done here and every realm handles their affairs differently. Had we settled in Mirkwood or ‘Lóriën their counsellors would be in charge and responsible for teaching us.”
He smiled at the effect his words had. The room was now filled with a feeling of equality, which had been absent before. “Please, make our and your job easier by working together; not against each other.”

He leaned on Gimli. “And one more thing. Everyone of you will have to answer to me!” He smiled and whispered, so only Gimli might be able to hear. “But maybe I’ll share my responsibilities or I won’t have time for Legolas.”
Gimli smiled but remained silent, escorting the elf out. He halted and looked over his shoulder. “If Legolas comes here, please redirect him to the front yard.” He grinned, knowing Legolas was bound to throw a tantrum at seeing this.

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Orophin carefully placed Elrond on the bed and removed his outer robe and his boots. Elrond was a dead weight and Orophin wondered if it was easier taking care of a dead person than a sleeping one. He quickly abandoned the thought, he didn’t really wish to find out.

He smiled, seeing Elrond’s blissful state, and went to the writing desk. He didn’t sit down but merely wrote a do-not-disturb sign and swiftly placed in on the other side of the door. He would not let any knocks wake the sleeping elf.

He went back and was indecisive between taking the chair or settling on the bed, holding Elrond. Remembering how much good it had done Elrond just to be held he decided on the latter. He removed his tunic and his boots and carefully climbed in. The moment he placed his arms around Elrond the Peredhel mewed and moved closer. It was that moment that he realised he never wanted to stop holding him. Orophin smiled and joined Elrond in reverie.

TBC