Camanti nin nasta (Help me heal)

Chapter one A stranger

It was a warm day and two elves rode ahead of the patrol, happy to be out in the open on such a sunny day.

Glorfindel smiled at Elladan’s antics. At times like these he was a little elfling again; unburdened and untroubled. How he wished he could always give Elladan this peace. But he couldn’t. He sighed. “We’ll be back in a few hours. Less, if you keep up this speed.”
Elladan grinned at Glorfindel and kicked his horse to go faster. “Race you.”
Glorfindel shook his head and motioned for Asfaloth to stay close.

Suddenly he stopped and widened his eyes. “Elladan!”
Hearing the order Elladan immediately turned and searched the surroundings, gasping when he saw what had alerted the blond. Not far away lay a naked elf, unconscious, for he hadn’t made a move yet.

He jumped off his horse and swiftly knelt down besides the body. He searched for injuries and felt for a pulse before he smiled. “He’s warm, Glorfindel.” He brushed away the hair to get a look at the facial features and sighed. “It’s an elf.” /And extremely beautiful./

Glorfindel undid his cloak and handed it to Elladan. “Here, cover him up. We must take him to your father.” He frowned. “I see absolutely no tracks, nothing to indicate how he got here. Naked no less. And the Bruinen isn’t even close.” The blond frowned again but sensed no danger so he shrugged, deeming it safe for now.

He cocked his head when Elladan put the stranger on his own horse instead of handing him over to Glorfindel, which would have been his normal action.

He didn’t ponder it long for the party was closing in on them and he turned round on the saddle. “We found an unconscious elf here. See if you can find some tracks or other signs of his origin.”
The warriors nodded and watched their captain and young lord dash off with the unconscious elf.

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Elrond stood on the watchtower and inhaled deeply. He could smell every flower in Imladris on the air and sighed happily.
“Falling in love again?”
Elrond didn’t open his eyes to know it was Erestor. He smiled. “Only with my realm and family, Erestor. On a daily basis.”
Instantly two arms encircled him from behind and a head came to rest on his back. “We love you too, adar.”
Elrond smiled at Elrohir’s display and slowly and carefully turned in the embrace so he could return the favour. Elrohir sighed happily and sagged against his father.

Erestor smiled warmly and placed his hands together in front of him. “Elrohir decided he had enough of signing documents.”
Elrond laughed, drawing a displeased grunt from Elrohir. “Ai, Erestor, you always make me laugh.”
Erestor shrugged and leaned against a pillar. “With Glorfindel refusing to do so it is left to me to play the clown.” He looked out over Imladris and happiness graced his features.

Elrond saw and smiled. “I am glad you came here, Erestor, instead of sailing.”
Elrohir looked up in wonder. “You were thinking of sailing? Do you hear the call?”
Erestor smiled at the younger twin and shook his head. “Nay, I don’t hear it, pen-neth, and I never did. But aye, I had planned to sail once, feeling there was nothing left for me to do here.” He smiled warmly. “And then the offer of aiding your father came.”

His look became distant. “I had half a heart to decline, but I realised I was still debating it when standing on the shore.” He shrugged. “So I came to see what was so special.”
Elrond smiled just as warmly. “And never left. For which I continue to be more than grateful.”
Erestor blushed. “How could I leave? You gave me a home, work and a family.”
Elrohir released his father and instantly hugged Erestor. “Aye, we would have been spoiled rotten if it hadn’t been for you. Doilla le, Erestor.”

Erestor petted Elrohir’s hair and looked out over the valley again, widening his eyes when he really registered what he was seeing. “Elrond!”
Elrond followed his look and gasped, seeing Elladan’s horse support two bodies. “Well, Erestor, it looks like our peace is at an end again.”
Erestor grinned and nodded, going back down, still holding Elrohir close. “Pen-neth, you go with your father. I have work to do.”

Elrohir nodded and started leaning on Elrond instead, easily matching his stride.
Elrond shook his head bemused, wondering how Elrohir managed to rest his head on his shoulder and still keep up this speed.

By the time they had arrived downstairs the two horses entered the courtyard and Elrond smiled warmly, detecting no injuries on Elladan and Glorfindel.

The blond jumped off and handed Asfaloth to the stable grooms.
Elladan looked at his father. “He doesn’t appear to be injured, adar, but he’s unconscious.”
Elrohir cocked his head. “Why is he wearing Glorfindel’s cloak?”
Glorfindel grinned. “Because he wears nothing underneath, Elrohir. We found him naked, Elrond.” He shook his head and frowned again. “I don’t like it. There were no tracks and no streams nearby.”
Elrond nodded. “Besides, only the Bruinen can make someone overestimate his skills.” He sighed. “We’ll worry about it later, Glorfindel. Let’s get him into a bed first and see if he really is uninjured.”

Elladan reluctantly handed his charge to Elrond and swiftly jumped off to follow him.
Elrohir turned and fell into step beside his twin. “I wonder who he is?”
Elladan nodded. “And what happened to him.”

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He groaned as light assaulted his eyes. He smiled; it was warming.

“Ah, you have awoken? Do you want some water?”
He turned his head towards the voice and frowned, remembering this elf.
The elf sat down and made him drink the water. The moment it hit his taste buds he moaned and took hold of the glass, swiftly emptying it. He had forgotten how good it felt.

Elrond smiled bemused at the action. “Who are you, stranger?”
The elf smiled at looked at him. He knew he could trust him. “My name is Leloth. Where am I? How did I get here?”
Elrond smiled. “Forgive me. You are in Imladris and I am her lord. My name is Elrond Peredhel. And my son and Glorfindel found you near the borders. Can you tell me what happened to you? How you got there?” If Elrond noticed the extremely pleased and happy look passing over his guest he didn’t show it.
Leloth shook his head. “I don’t know, my lord. The last thing I remember is being in the place I call home and the next moment I am here in this bed.”

Elrond nodded. He sensed no lie, half-truths, but no lie. He had long decided to let this elf stay; for there had been no traces found anywhere, nothing to indicate who he is or where he’s from. He smiled. “And where is that home of yours?”
Leloth smiled. “Valinor.” That was true enough and he couldn’t afford to lie to Elrond. The elf had the power to throw him out and that he didn’t want. At all.

Suddenly the door opened. “Adar, Erestor asks if you…” The intruder stopped speaking and two soft grey eyes stared at the bed in disbelief. “He woke! Adar, you promised to alert us.” The voice was accusing.
Elrond laughed. “Peace, it happened so sudden I did not yet have the change. You do not expect me to leave a healing elf alone, do you?”
“Nay, adar.” The eyes sparkled again. “Elladan will be pleased.” He shuffled, eager to get his twin. Elrond nodded and that was all Elrohir needed to storm off.

The Peredhel turned his attention back to the elf in the bed and smiled warmly. “That was Elrohir, my youngest son. It was Elladan that found you.”
Leloth’s eyes warmed and he smiled. “Than I have to thank him.”

The door opened again and the twin rushed back in. “Adar?”
Leloth tried to sit up, but Elrond instantly prevented the movement. “Relax, you are still weak, my friend.” He looked at his son. “His name is Leloth.”
Leloth nodded. “It is nice to make your acquaintance, my lord Elrohir.”
The twin erupted in a pearly laugh and shook his head. He sobered and sat down, clasping the elf’s hand in his. “It is nice to meet you too, Leloth, but Elrohir is my twin. My name is Elladan.”
Leloth frowned and narrowed his eyes, nodding when he found the eyes deeper and the built more masculine than Elrohir’s. “Of course, I should have realised.”
Elrond shook his head. “That’s all right. You were unaware they are twins.”
Leloth nearly corrected Elrond but stopped himself just in time. This was going to be hard after all.
He smiled at Elladan. “But considering Elrohir was the one storming out just now to fetch his brother, it is only natural this is he.”

Elladan grinned and his eyes twinkled. “You scared me half to death, you know that? I feared Glorfindel and I had stumbled upon a corpse.”
Leloth smiled. “I’m sorry. Next time I’m unconscious I’ll try to look more alive.” He looked at Elrond. “How long do I have to remain in bed? I would like to see more of your realm. That is; if I may?”
Elrond smiled and nodded. “Of course you may. Elladan here will be your guide. But for now I want you to rest, at least another day. It will give Erestor time to fully prepare your rooms.”

Leloth nodded and watched them leave.
He wanted nothing more than to hold Elladan back, but didn’t do anything, knowing it would look suspicious. Nay, he had to work hard to gain his attention and even harder to keep his secret. Now that he felt the sun caress his skin, indeed felt his skin, he never wanted to let go of that sensation ever again. /Thank you, Mandos, now I don’t have to search Imladris./

TBC