When least expected

Chapter twenty one injury and worry

Elrohir groaned as he regained consciousness. He looked around dazed, but instantly realised he was still in ‘Lóriën. And that after all he had done to make sure none would suspect anything. He startled when he saw Erestor asleep on the chair next to his bed.

Blaming it on an illusion he made to rise, intending to leave and try again. But Erestor was real and his sleep was light, for he knew he was the only one to watch Elrohir.
Envinyaroa had left a while ago to catch some sleep himself. Actually Erestor had pushed the healer out. The elf had ly dly driven him insane.
When he heard noises coming from the bed his eyes immediately became alert and he saw Elrohir trying to stand up and walk. He rose and reached for the half-elf. “Elrohir, you are injured and need to rest. Get back into bed, pen-neth.”

The look Elrohir gave him unnerved him. “You’re not real.” Erestor gasped. Those words revealed how far Elrohir already was. Father than they had feared. “I am very real, pen-neth. Glorfindel, Lindir and I accompanied your father. He is here and gravely worried for you. Celeborn needs his attention otherwise it would have been he talking to you and not me.”
He gently laid his arm across Elrohir’s shoulder to steer him to bed, but the Peredhel shook it off. “Nay, I don’t believe you. You are an illusion. Your words are too. It is never true.”
Tears made it down his face as Elrohir vividly remembered his pain at seeing both his parents leave.

When Erestor tried again he shoved him away. From the corner of his eyes he saw a letter opener laying on the table and he grabbed it. Without warning he lifted it and planted it in Erestor’s chest. “There, now you won’t haunt me any longer.”
He left and, as fast as his body allowed, ran away. He headed towards the armoury where he would take a sword and drive it through his own heart.

Erestor stumbled as he saw his own blood seeping out of him. He realised the danger he was in, Elrohir had delivered a fatal wound if not taken care of soon. He crept towards the door, hoping someone would miraculously appear.

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Glorfindel smiled as he saw the scene in front of him. After talking with Rumil and Orophin, assuring them he would love to help, he had tracked his friends down and now watched Elladan and Elrond enjoy some moments of rest. He smiled. It was what Elrond needed. His sons had always been his life and now he had it back.

Elrond lay on his back, holding Elladan in his arms. They both had talked about the years they had been apart, realising they had missed each other, and now both father and son gazed up at the clouds, as they had when Elladan had been little. Elrond’s smile broadened when he sensed Glorfindel’s presence. “Ah, there you are, meldir. Come join us, we’ve left some food for you, although Elladan eats more than he ever did.”

Glorfindel left his hiding place, approached and sat down on the blanket. “Really, don’t tell me you are pregnant as well, Elladan, and eating for two.”
Elladan laughed. “No, Glorfindel, but maybe you are, the way you’re stuffing that inside right now. But then again, you would not have left Valinor if that meant leaving behind it’s father.”

Seeing Glorfindel blush Elladan’s old habits came back and he could resist teasing the blond. “Ah, what do I see. A blush? My, my, does that mean I was correct in my assumption after all, Glorfindel. Are we getting another addition to our household? Lovely, I will go alert Rielle to adapt your food.”
He sat up, pretending he had every intention to leave. Just before rising himself completely he pretended to frown. “But wait a minute. Who’s the father, I wonder. I can’t be an elf from Valinor as I just established you wouldn’t have left then. Hmmmmm, that leaves Erestor, Lindir and father and I can immediately rule out Lindir, he only had eyes for Elrohir, does he still love him? Erestor, maybe, but I have trouble picturing the two of you together. Which leaves..”

During his oration Glorfindel had grown redder and knowing what the eldest twin was about to say made him lower his head in shame. “…Yes, it’s the only logical explanation. Ata, when did you bed Glorfindel?”
Elrond was completely oblivious to Glorfindel’s embarrassment and played along with the joke. “Elladan, you’ve always been excellent in math, calculate yourself. But please bear in mind that was not the first time we made love nor was it the last.” He would love throwing this joke back at Elladan and if Glorfindel played along they could make Elladan seriously doubt himself. He grinned. “Isn’t that right, love.” His hand grabbed Glorfindel’s and he frowned at the temperature.

Feeling his hand and hearing his words made Glorfindel panic. He had never ever panicked before in his entire life, not even when he had faced the over-seized over-heated Balrog, but now fear clawed at his heart. He stared at his hand in disbelief. It felt as if Elrond’s hand was burning a hole in his and he gasped when he heard the word love. It was what he had always hoped for but not under these circumstances.
The fruit he had been chewing on entered his air pipe and Glorfindel went into a coughing fit, trying to get rid of the fruit that was blocking his air supply. He doubled over when pain attacked his longs and tried in vain to draw in some air.

Elladan stared at him in shock. He had no idea what was wrong.
For a second Elrond sat motionless as well but then the choking sounds registered in his mind and he jumped up and stood behind Glorfindel. Locking his arms around the blond’s chest he squished, and again, and again, until the fruit flew out of Glorfindel’s mouth. He held the blond as Glorfindel sagged against him, getting fresh air into his longs, big loads at first but slowly his breathing was getting back to normal.

He looked up confused, as if he didn’t know what had happened, but in truth he had no idea who had saved him, who was holding him now. Seeing Elladan stand he realised it had been Elrond and he couldn’t stop a relieved sigh from leaving his mouth. If it had been Elladan he would have to get up now, but the experience had shaken him and he was sure his legs would not have cooperated. But he did not feel guilty for taking up Elrond’s arms a little longer.

Elladan smiled when he saw Glorfindel was alright and his smile broadened he realised Elrond was petting the other’s hair. But what had prompted his already broad smile to widen even further was the expression in Elrond’s eyes. It spoke of love and devotion. /Of course, they’ve been through a lot together and Glorfindel means a lot to him. And he was there for him in Valinor when mother wasn’t. Too bad it isn’t mutual./
Suddenly his eyes widened as he realised the se tre truth. Glorfindel carrying his father’s book, Glorfindel always being there, Glorfindel being embarrassed just now. Elladan now recognized all the signs that had been there throughout millennia. /Well, my friend, things will change!/

“Glorfindel, forgive me, I never wanted to upset you like that. I shall leave you alone, I think you and ata need to talk.” He shot his father a look Elrond knew only too well. It said ‘don’t mess up.’ Elrond frowned. He had no idea what Elladan was trying to say with that. But before Elladan had taken one step Orophin ran towards them.

“Lord Elrond, Lord Elrond” His face betrayed his shock and fear.
Glorfindel jumped to his feet, hissing as his body protested. Feeling Elrond’s hand on his shoulder made him glad but he looked at the warrior. “What happened?”
Orophin was already pulling them along. “Please hurry. Lord Erestor is bleeding to death.”
“What?!” Elrond immediately broke into a run, surprising the others in his speed. Glorfindel ran after him. “Elladan, search your brother.” He had a very good idea what might have happened.

Orophin forced Elladan to stand still. “Think first. He’s obviously farther than we think, yet set on dying. Try to think of what he would do, where would he go. Where would you go if you were him?”
Elladan shouted. “How am I supposed to know. I don’t have a death wish.” He appreciated Orophin’s effort, but all he could think about was Elrohir.
“Look, you sensed your father, right? Can you not also sense your brother?” That made Elladan stop. He realised Orophin was right. He berated himself for not thinking of that himself and he drew into himself focussing on his twin. Suddenly his eyes flashed open. “The armoury, hurry.” And while Elrond and Glorfindel were rushing to Erestor’s aid, they went to Elrohir’s.

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Mandos groaned and threw his wineglass on the floor in frustration. “What is it with these elves? Can’t they take a hint? Do I really have to paint them a picture?”
“Relax, brother, all will be well.” Mandos turned around and glared at Lorien, his brother, who had come here to visit him. “Well? Well? How can you say that? Everything is going wrong. There’s an elf approaching my halls, that really shouldn’t be here. And soon there will be another one. And things only just turned out for Celeborn.”

Vairë smiled. She knew why Mandos favoured him. had had been shocked when he had told her but had understood and promised to keep it a secret. Which she had.

Nienna sighed. She had not left yet. She was too concerned for Elrohir. “Maybe you should let him enter. I know his dreams have always been disturbed. He often prays to me for courage.”
Mandos sniffed. “Normally I would not hesitate to let him in, welcome him. But now I can’t. If we let this happen your Elrohir becomes a slayer, and I will not allow that to happen. Orcs are one thing, but an elf.”
Lorien shrugged. “He wasn’t thinking clearly. None will blame him.” But Vairë shook her head. “He will blame himself and that will only fuel his suicide ideas.”

Lorien thought long and hard. “Ok, here’s what we’ll do.” The others came closer and listened to his plan. They agreed it was perfect. All would be perfect and with only some simple actions.
“Nienna, you set things in motion.” She nodded and left, ready to plant some ideas into the elves’ heads. “Mandos, you know your job. Vairë, follow me.” It had been agreed she and Lorien would talk to some elves here, to end this once and for all.

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Elrond rushed into the room, gasping at the sight. Rielle and Envinyaroa were busy trying to stop Erestor’s bleeding.
Glorfindel felt his own breath knocked away from him as well. Seeing Elrond temporarily paralysed he advanced, pulling El alo along. “We can’t afford to lose time. I shall stitch the wound and you two healers can prepare the herbs that wstimstimulate the making of new blood. Rielle, you keep the pressure on the wound whilst I work on it.”

Hearing the elda’s voice brought Elrond to action and he practically ran to the table, dragging Envinyaroa along. When he had entered the room he had feared there was no more time and that he had come too late. But they couldn’t give in to despair.
“What happened?” It was a thought and he didn’t even realise he spoke out loud but the healer answered him. “Erestor had sent me away, clng Ing I needed my rest. I only went into another room, needing to stay close. Suddenly I heard some noises and was on my way back when I saw Elrohir leave. A second later Erestor crawled out the room, carrying this wound. Elrohir must be doing worse than we thought. He stabbed him with a letter opener. One centimetre to the right and it would have entered Erestor’s heart.”
Elronghedghed. “Thank the Valar he now has a surviving change. We’ll worry about Elrohir later. And don’t blame yourself for this.” Elrond could read the guilt in the other’s eyes. “Focus upon their recovery instead.”

Envinyaroa nodded and suddenly grasped Elrond’s arm. “I think I’ve got it. Why didn’t I think of this before.” ‘It’s the only way….’ The words echoed in his mind. “Yes, yes, that’s the way. I was so focused I forgot.”
Seeing Elrond’s agitated expression he shook his he“Elr“Elrohir needs company, constant company. From someone cheerful and with a lot of patience and affection towards him. That person has to show him the joys of this world. That person has to be with him for every single second for as long as Elrohir needs him.”
Elrond nodded. “Lindir fits that description perfectly. But is there time for this? Isn’t he too far already?” He shook his head to clear it and focus himself. “No time for guessing or what if’s. We need to focus on Erestor first. It all depends on how fast Elladan and Orophin find him.” /And the state he’s in./

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Elladan followed Orophin as the elf ran towards a dark shed in the shade of a rather large tree. Orophin didn’t waste time reaching for the key but simply kicked the door in, bursting into the room. He was unable to stop a shocked scream from leaving his mouth.
Elrohir lay in amidst the weapons, covered in his own blood. He had cut his throat and now looked more dead than alive.

Elladan brushed past Orophin, crying. Instinctively he checked for life signs and a weak smile crept across his face when he found some, albeit very weak.
Jerking off his own cloak he placed it at his brother’s throat. Next he grabbed Orophin’s and draped it around Elrohir’s form before lifting him up. “We have to hurry. You keep pressing my cloak to his throat, keep the blood in.” Together they broke out in the fastest run of their lives, praying Elrohir would be saved.

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Waking of some ominous feeling, Celeborn rose himself. He pinched Haldir in the side, he needed his lover awake right now. Something just didn’t feel right. Groaning the warrior awoke, immediately rising when he saw Celeborn’s troubled look.
“Something’s wrong. I can feel it. Will you please go check for me. I don’t know what I’ll find and I don’t want to risk harming the babies.”
Haldir smiled, pulled his lover close and left after arming himself and delivering a soft, promising kiss to Celeborn, wht ont on the bed, fidgeting.

Haldir ran downstairs and started sharing his lover’s concern. /It’s too quiet./
Suddenly he heard sounds from a corridor to his left. /Erestor’s rooms are located there……Elrohir!/ He ran to the room and gasped as he entered it.

Glorfindel, who had just finished stitching his friend back together, turned and smiled as he saw Haldir standing in the door opening. He approached him, giving room for Elrond and Envinyaroa to do their work.
He smiled bitterly when he saw Rielle standing, looking lost. “Rielle, please go to lord Celeborn. I don’t think Elrond would want him alone and you need to fuss over someone right now.” Rielle grinned at his words and went willingly.

Glorfindel quickly updated Haldir. Remembering the words exchanged between Elrond and Envinyaroa he asked Haldir if he would run and get Lindir here. He figured that if they were going to need his help, there was no time like the present to ask. Haldir did as he was bid, glad Rielle was looking after his lover.

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Elrond was relieved the herbs he fed Erestor were taken in. He made sure to send small doses of energy into the elf each time he did so. He would have loved to aid Erestor the normal way, but he was still too weak from the ordeal with Celeborn and now that the danger of losing Erestor had disappeared, he felt it unnecessary to drain himself entirely.

Suddenly the door flung open and Elladan and Orophin carried Elrohir in. Elrond had to steady himself at the sight. Fortunately Envinyaroa was still present and took charge. “Quickly on the bed.” After checking the body and listening to Orophin’s tale he sighed rejected. “There’s not much we can do. He was still weak from the first attempt and now the blood loss is too high. He is on his way to Mandos and without his will to live he won’t be able to fight it.”
“No, I refuse to believe that and give up on him. And neither should you.” Lindir and Haldir stood in the door opening, panting hard. The minstrel walked in. “Go on, do your job: bind his wound, give him the herbs and energy to refill his blood. And we have to talk to him. Haldir, is there a harp here? Otherwise I will have to fetch my own.” Haldir nodded and ran away to bring it here. He understood Lindir’s plan before the others did.

Suddenly Elladan’s eyes flared up. “You are right, Lindir. Elrohir hawaysways been acceptable to music. It might be the only thing he still cares about.”
His gaze came to rest on Erestor and he whitened. “Elrohir?” He could see how badly Erestor was injured and found it hard to believe Elrohir had been capable of doing that. Glorfindel laid his arm on his shoulder. “Elrohir isn’t himself right now, Elladan. They both will be all right.”

He hoped his words would offer him some comfort, but Elladan remained standing there, glued to the spot, his eyes fixed on Erestor’s form. He had never seen Erestor injured or weak. The advisor always had been able to handle anything. Erestor had always been a beacon to everybody and now the sturdy invincible rock was laying on the bed, fighting for his life. Tears creped into Elladan’s eyes and he didn’t force them back.

Glorfindel had walked closer to Elrond and put his hands on the Peredhel’s shoulders. “Trust the Valar to stand by him, meldir. You cannot give in to despair. Elrohir needs you strong and so does Elladan. He seems lost and lonely right now and I don’t know what to do.”

Elronde hie his eyes away from Elrohir’s lifeless shape and turned to look at Elladan. He cringed when he saw the blond was right. Sighing he stepped closer and approached him. “Elladan. Elrohir will be alright. We must have faith in the Valar to aid him in his hour of need. We must believe they are on our side. And we must stand firm and strong. Only together will we safe him.”
He could see Elladan wanted to help, to do something, anything and he smiled ruefully. “There is nothing you can do for Elrohir at the moment.” He drew him close and embraced him although he didn’t know who needed the contact more, Elladan or himself.

“I know ada, but I feel so helpless, so powerless. And Erestor…” He broke down in the strong arms of his father. “I’ve never seen him like this. He’s always been there. He always knew how to handle everything. How could this have happened?”
Elrond let him cry. “Elrohir is ailing, Elladan, mentally unstable. He must have surprised Erestor.”

Suddenly Elladan pulled himself free. “You should help Elrohir, ata, not me.” He looked at the bed of his twin but it immediately shifted to Erestor’s. “He’s always had this image of invincibility around him and now….”
Glorfindel now spoke up. “You’ve always had him as a beacon, to guide you when you were lost and seeing him this vulnerable shocks you.” He thought he began to understand. Elrond caught the twinkle in his eye and nodded, agreeing. “There’s nothing you can do for Elrohir, but you can help Erestor, Elladan.”
Seeing Elladan’s eyes flash with hope Elrond realised they were doing the right thing. “Keep him company, talk to him, touch him, clean him and feed him.”
Glorfindel touched his shoulder to make Elladan look at him. “What your father is saying you should be Erestor’s beacon now.” He smiled when he saw a raw determination being born in Elladan. It told him he would not give up on Erestor and would go to lengths to keep him here.

Elladan walked to Erestor and sat down beside him. Elrond was pleased Elladan now was doing better for he no longer had the power to hold up a brave front. He felt drained, empty and afraid.
Suddenly Glorfindel stood before him. His posture told Elrond all he needed to know. The blond was there for him. /You’re my stronghold and you don’t even know it./ He slumped against the blond and cried his own tears, clinging to Glorfindel to stop him from losing his sanity.

The elda ignored the stares Orophin and Lindir send their way and tightened his hold before steering Elrond to some chairs. He locked eyes with the waiting elves. “Orophin, there’s no reason for you to stay here. Why don’t you go find Rumil? Lindir, I think you need to stay and take over as soon as the healer has finished. And Haldir,” He addressed the returning warrior, who handed Lindir a harp and a flute, “go back to your husband, before he starts worrying.”

Haldir and Orophin left but not without the promise to keep them posted.
Lindir sat himself down, making sure he was out the way. He smiled at the way Elladan had totally forgotten everything around him. The world now only existed of the wounded counsellor. /Maybe your luck is changing, my friend. Elladan certainly seems to like you more than we thought./
His next glance was for Glorfindel and his lord. He felt sorry for the Peredhel, who already had suffered so much. /I think I already know how to get Elrohir back to our world. Make him help me play matchmaker. And once the babies are born they’ll keep him here./

He heard Envinyaroa mutter that the air was too tense and too loaded with negativity. The wounded elves needed positive energy or there might be complications.
Lindir only knew one way to change that. Music. He gently started touching the harp, creating lovely tones. Tones that would calm and sooth and then he added his voice, singing softly. The air became lighter and happiness came back. Glorfindel’s voice entered his hearing. “I don’t now it, but it calms us all down. Sing it again.” Lindir smiled and did so.

Írë i-lú ettúla
Enyaré nai tanuvas
Man láner cenina nengwenen
Man epë cuilnë morniessë
Nai ettuluva
Írë i-lú ettúla

Írë i-lú ettúla
Írë lú fire
Ar i luinë quentasta
Irë i telmondo úná telmondo
Nai írë i-lú túla

Man ista sa enyárë
Ettúla engwi úlelya
Ve ten ner quentër cari
Váquemë ná ve
I ilfuru
Ar ilfuru ú hohaiya réolo

Írë i-lú ettúla
Írë lú nyarë men
Ú tuo ar ú vala pusta i-anwa
Ar ú alda sa aira sa olwen minya ráca

He repeated it several times until Envinyaroa laid his hand on his shoulder. “I think you can stop now. They’ve all fallen asleep. I believe it’s your job to watch over Elrohir?” Lindir nodded and stood to take a chair next to Elrohir’s bed. He smiled as he looked around.

Elladan had fallen asleep with his head resting next to Erestor’s, his arm draped across the elder elf’s chest. Glorfindel’s eyes were also glaced in reverie, still firmly holding Elrond, who had also fallen asleep. Lindir noticed that the hold he had on the blond had loosened a bit and had turned from needful clinging to loving possessiveness.

Envinyaroa left to check Celeborn. He wanted to make sure the news hadn’t caused complication in the pregnancy. Lindir promised he wouldn’t fall asleep.

End chapter 21
TBC

Translations:
Only the song. There is a little note to it. It’s a Dutch song that belongs to a television show called “Wij, Alexander”. It’s the titlesong and I like it a lot. To me it’s soothing and I found it fitting for this moment in the tale. I have translathe the lyrics to Quenya from the Dutch original but for your sakes I’ve also translated it into English. Oh, and it’s written and sang by Huub van der Lubbe.
When the time is there
Then it might show
What wasn’t seen up close
What lived in the darkness before
Might come out
When the time is there

When the time is there
When times passes by
En the shadow of the past stands aside
When the stone at the bottom isn’t the last
Maybe when the time comes

Who knows that then
Comes out that things don’t go
As they were told to do
That silence is close
To the truth
And the truth not far from the illusion

When the time is there
When time learns us
That no force or power shuns the truth
And no tree is so old that no branch splits once
Will show when the time is there

Much better in Dutch though.