When least expected

Chapter 19 Just in time

As soon as they had arrived Elrond had run after Orophin, Elladan not far behind them both. They had left the horses in Glorfindel’s capable hands. Erestor and Lindir would make sure their belongings would get inside the talan.
By the time Orophin had led them to the right room Elrond was panting slightly. The years in Valinor had made him weaker and he already knew he was in for a lot of teasing by the twins, telling him he had gotten chubby. /Not that I’ve gained much./

Afraid of what he might see he entered silently. Envinyaroa was beyond relief when he saw the famous healer enter the room. He hurried over and, forgoing etiquettes and good standards, hugged the elflord tightly. “Bless the Valar they have found you.” He didn’t stop his happy tears from leaving his face.
Elrond quickly took in the scene.
Rielle was still adding herbs to the little fire that created a healing smoke that almost completely covered the ruler of ‘Lóriën. He squinted his eyes as he saw a rounding abdomen. /He’s pregnant?/ He didn’t have to guess who fathered the baby, for he saw Haldir sitting close by, emotions clearly readably on the ash-striken face. /He’s the father. I’ve had that same look in my eyes when Celebrían almost lost Arwen./

Elladan watched his father, hoping he could do something and smiled when he saw his father become the healer again. He had always admired his father for that capability. Elrond could adopt any stance and change into each one within seconds: from The Ruler of Imladris to Lore Master to Healer to Devoted fried, father or husband or to gentle host.
Elladan had always adored his father and it had been no secret he had always favoured him above his mother. Unlike Elrohir. At the time Elladan couldn’t have been more pleased. When Elrohir had taken Celebrían as his favourite parent Elladan had Elrond to himself. But now he regretted that. For it meant Elrohir suffered too much. Celebrían had to leave them behind when she could no longer dwell in Middle Earth and her only change of survival had been Valinor. And now Elrond had come back without her.
Elladan had briefly feared Elrond was merely on a vacation but the look on Erestor’s face told him differently. The raven-haired advisor was an open book to him. He never understood people’s dislike towards Erestor. They alwaysd Erd Erestor was too reserved, too cloaked even when naked and too haughty. Elladan had never seen any of it. Erestor had always been friendly and kind towards him and Elrohir.

While Elladan continued his musing Elrond examined the unconscious elf, his gaze clinical as he listened to Envinyaroa’s update. He nodded as his suspicions where confirmed.
He smiled when he saw Haldir’s state. The warrior was highly annoyed at the slow movements of both healers and was going crazy, trying to calm himself and not lash out at them.
Elrond captured his gaze and held it prisoner. “Worry not, Haldir. This is not beyond my skill. Soon they will be alright.” He smiled at him. “And I will continue to monitor him and we will all make sure he doesn’t work. The coming months will be hard on him. I trust you to make sure he follows my diet.” He knew his father-in-law well enough to know Celeborn would hate it. Being pampered and fussed over was wasted on him, but Elrond would not take any changes.

Haldir nodded as hope and fear warred each other inside him. Elrond squinted his eyes. Celeborn would need Haldir stable and right now he was anything but. “Where are your brothers?” Haldir seemed not to have heard, so Rielle answered for him, worry evident in her tone. But her worry wasn’t for her lord. She had every confidence in Elrond’s powers, but she was highly concerned about Haldir. “I’ve send Orophin to fetch some Athelas and Lavender. He should be back soon and only the Valar know where Rumil is.”
Elrond nodded. “Good, go help Orophin then and get him back here as fast as you can. We need him to get Haldir back together. Celeborn needs his lover to be strong.” All eyes widened at his words and Elladan beamed. This was his father. Nothing would ever escape his attention. Elrond shrugged. “It’s rather obvious. Let’s start. Healer, please remove those nasty fumes and support Haldir. Elladan, I want you to stay close to me.”
Elladan was already in position. He knew he would have to catch his father when the session was done.

Elrond focused and slowly the world around him faded as he concentrated on Celeborn, sending energy into the other. He temporarily focused his mind on Celeborn’s abdomen. He wanted to make sure he hadn’t missed anything earlier. Suddenly he gasped. /No, can this really be?/ He concentrated even further. /Yes, it is. No wonder he’s so exhausted./ Elrond made sure all was alright and then concentrated on Celeborn himself. His energy went inside Celeborn, spreading throughout the body.
Knowing he had now given enough Elrond wanted to withdraw but something caught his attention. It was very small but he thought he saw a ghost of darkness lingering on the other’s heart. He approached and saw he was correct. /Old grief./ But it seemed young. Instantly Elrond realised. /Galadriel./
For a second Elrond was at war with himself. Courtesy told him he should not meddle and do this but on the other hand he would be setting them both up for heartache if he didn’t. Feeling the new life Celeborn was carrying prompted his decision. He called onto more strength and catapulted it towards Celeborn’s heart. When he saw the darkness being engulfed and the remaining energy speed towards Celeborn’s mind, Elrond knew it had worked. He quickly withdraw and as his surroundings took shape again he blacked out.

Elladan immediately caught him. He had seen his father’s nod and knew Elrond had been satisfied. Both Corn orn and the baby were out of danger. He smiled at Haldir and Orophin, who had returned during the session. “I saw ata nod. He only does that when things go well. They’ll be fine. And ata needs to rest and he’s rather heavy.” He looked at Rielle and Envinyaroa who had been waiting at the back. “Where is the nearest bed?”

Reille motioned for him to follow while the healer approached the bed, preparing a sleeping draught. After checking on Celeborn he decided he would be out for a long while. So he handed Haldir the cup. “Drink. You need your rest. Remember Elrond’s words: for the coming months you will have to fetch and carry for your lover.”
Haldir wanted to point out those were not Elrond’s words but Orophin snickered. “I’d wager he’ll use us all as delivery-boys. And you could do with a little rest, brother.” Orophin could read the doubt in Haldir’s eyes and understood. “Don’t worry. I will stay here and wake you should anything happen. Anything at all.”
Haldir relented and drank his sleeping draught.

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Rielle had just gathered the necessary things on her tray and was about to carry it upstairs and hand half of it to the healer, who would use it on Celeborn, and the other half to Elladan so Elrond’s strength would return faster. Carefully she lifted the heavy object. But, as she turned and saw the horrific sight that approached, she dropped it in shock and emitted a strangled scream. Quickly gathering her wits she ran outside.

But Glorfindel and Erestor were faster.
They too had seen Rumil approaching rapidly, a horse without a rider following his own. Erestor had gasped as he saw it was Elrohir’s and then nearly lost his footing when the shape Rumil was holding became visible. He had immediately alerted Glorfindel and together they had run towards them.

Rumil could barely contain his tears, seeing the two ancient elves running towards him. He was at a loss as to what to do, but he knew those two belonged with Elrond, so that meant Elrond was here too and Elrohir had a chance.
Once in front of him Elrohir’s injuries where in sight and both elder gasped as they saw the amount of blood still seeping out of him.
Glorfindel froze dead. /No, this can’t be happening. No, Elrohir, not him./

Seeing the blond was going to be of little use Erestor took charge. He realised they had to act quickly. From the corner of his eye he saw Rielle approaching and he started ordering. “Quickly, Rumil, hand him to me and follow me to my room.” He hit Glorfindel around the head. “Snap out of it and take care of the horse before finding Elladan and Elrond. They need to be informed. You, Rielle, isn’t it, go get the healer. Hurry.”

Rielle nodded and hurried to do his bidding while he and Rumil hurried inside, leaving Glorfindel stunned. But not for long. The blond snapped out of it quickly and after giving the horses to some passing elves made his way to find Elrond and Elladan.

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He groaned as darkness slowly retreated and made way for the light to enter his being. He blinked as awareness slowly came back to him.
Seeing a shadow sitting at his side Elrond smiled. He couldn’t remember waking up after a session without Glorfindel present. /If only you would feel the same./ But he quickly dismissed that thought. /No use in wishful thinking./
Then his companion’s hair colour registered in his foggy brain. It was dark hair that he saw and not Glorfindel’s golden strands. He immediately assumed something had happened to the blond and made to rise but a gently hand firmly pushed him back. “Ata, you can’t. not yet. This healing session has weakened you, ata. Rielle will bring some miruvor to help you regain your strength. And some Lembas too.”
Elrond grumped. “I’m not the pregnant one, you know.” But he smiled at Elladan’s care and soon drifted off into reverie again.

It wasn’t long after that the door flung open and revealed a flustered Glorfindel. Elladan instantly knew he had bad news for his father. Glorfindel sighed as he took in Elrond’s shape. /I have to make sure he doesn’t try to help. It will drain him too much./ “Wake your father, Elladan.” His voice was laden with guilt at bringing such tidings.
Elrond already woke when his friend’s voice entered his dreamy state. Looking at the other in a reassuring way, he knew the blond would always worry about his his expression soon changed into one of fear. He knew that look. Glorfindel had some terrible news. He rose instantly. “Glorfindel?”
Glorfindel lowered his head. “It’s Elrohir. Rumil just brought him in. Rielle went to fetch the healer and….” Elrond interrupted. “Where is he? What happened? Tell us on the way.”

As he led them to Erestor’s rooms he told Elrond he had no idea what had happened, for he really didn’t. It had been impossible to tell if the blood came from one or several wounds and whether they were lethal or not. It also hadn’t been possible to tell if those wounds were inflicted by some enemy or if they had in some way been self-inflicted.

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“Haldir, you have to wake up. Haldir!!!” Orophin groaned. He had trouble waking his brother up. No amount of shaking had proven enough to wake him. Not even the water, by now almost an entire river, he had thrown in the sleeping elf’s face had woken Haldir. He had tried to wake him ever since Celeborn had shown signs of waking himself. But Haldir had proven impossible to be woken.
So Orophin had made sure Celeborn was alright and had forced the sulking elf to eat. He had been shocked to see his lord sulking, but instantly blamed it on the pregnancy. /Who knows what mom was lwhenwhen carrying us./
Now that Celeborn was eating and drinking peacefully Orophin had returned to his previous job: waking Haldir.

At first Celeborn had been worried at Orophin’s actions, but he quickly noted the voice carried no fear, only irritation. /So, he’s a sound sleeper then?/
Celeborn hadn’t noticed any of that yet, as Haldir had always been awake before him. Every morning Haldir’s loving gaze would wake him up, even before Anar’s warm rays graced the world again.
He smiled and looked at his sleeping lover. “Let him rest, Orophin. He’s entitled to some sleep after worrying so for me. I owe the three of you my life and I’ve not even thanked you for that yet.”

Orophin waved it away and resorted to poking Haldir. When they had been little that had always jolted Haldir up, but not today. He raised his arms in defeat and slumped on the chair, locking eyes with Celeborn.
He was shocked at the happiness that stared back at him. He knew Haldir made the other happy, but yesterday the eyes hadn’t looked this alive. / Has he finally healed?/
Celeborn easily read the questions in his eyes and he was shocked himself. “You’re right Orophin. I feel a lot lighter today. The past now really is the past.”

A sudden urge to kiss his lover made him stand and cross the distance. He caressed his lover’s face. “Haldir, Elentínya, tápa esta, merin tulpëlyenë” Haldir’s eyes instantly opened and stared at him in love, hope and wonder. Celeborn dipped his head and claimed his lover’s lips, who eagerly returned the kiss.
Happy tears left his eyes. “Mithrilo nín, ni navnë lencuvan le. Avá le ruhta nin ata!” He drew his lover back for another heartfelt kiss and when he pulled back he sat up, pulling Celeborn next to him. He remembered Elrond’s words and would see to it Celeborn would not overdo it again.
Celeborn allowed Haldir to hold him close, understanding his worries. “I think I overdid the far-speaking. I am sorry I scared you, love, that was never my intention.”

He sighed as he forced his thoughts back to the troubles at hand. “How fares Elrohir?” Orophin shrugged. “He should be doing better now that Elrond has arrived.” Seeing Celeborn’s scornful look he hurried to add, “He arrived when you were unconscious, my Lord, and you would still be if he hadn’t helped. Elladan is with him now. Lords Glorfindel, Erestor and Linder have travelled with him. I hope we have enough rooms.” Celeborn smiled. “Rielle will make room.” He laid his head on Haldir’s shoulder, loving the moment.

But their peace was a sort one.

End chapter 19
TBC

Translations:
Haldir, Elentínya, tápa esta, merin tulpëlyenë means Haldir, my shining star, stop sleeping, I wish to kiss you.
Mithrilo nín, ni navnë lencuvan le. Avá le ruhta nin ata! Means my mithril one, I thought I would lose you. Don’t you scare (litt. Terrify) me again.