Paramour

The young healer of Imladris had been rushed from the warmth of his
pallet, and the most
erotic of dreams by a frantic pounding upon the healing room doors.
Pushing himself up from the cot, he rubbed his eyes and tried to focus
in the dark room, the fire having long died down to embers. Judging by
the pitch , the sun could not have risen yet and groggily he swung his
long legs over the edge of the bed.

The floor was ice cold beneath his bare feet as he padded towards the
source of the forceful rapping. Opening the large door he was greeted by
a waft of warm air from the kitchens as it swept in ahead of the
agitated Elf who had woken him so abruptly....and so early.

"Where is Lord Elrond???" began the distraught Elf as he tried to squint
into the shadows of the healing solar.

Tinuvel reached out his hand and laid it on the elder Elf's shoulder
trying to calm him as
best he could.

" He is not in residence today," replied Tinuvel , drawing him inside."
But I am his apprentice....if you are in need I'm sure I can be of
aid..."

The Elf's face fell at the news and he began to sway a bit so Tinuvel
quickly ushered him to
a nearby chair.

" Mellon....what ails you.....? I can help," he offered crouching beside
the visitor
whose head now rested in his hands.

" Ohh by Elbereth," moaned the elder elf. "This is not good.."

Tinuvel looked at him gravely, still quite unsure of his predicament.

" There is so much blood.......is there supposed to be that much blood?
" he winced into his hands.

The healer's concern turned to acute uneasiness at the mention of blood
and he lifted the Elf's face up to hold his gaze.

" Tell me, what is it..... please..... if there is blood I must know
now...." Tinuvel quickly began to braid his hair down his back as the
Elf pulled himself together enough to
speak.

"It is my mate. She has been laboring with our child through out the
night, and refused me
to come for aid, but......" The elf stumbled over his words. " But there
is so much blood
and she is still sleeping ....I could not....I mean I could not wait any
longer."

Tinuvel's eyes widened at the seriousness of the revelation and tried to
quell the panic that
tightened in his belly.

" She sleeps???" The healer grabbed at his boots and shoved them onto
his feet, snatching up a basket from the table and a some cloth before
pulling the catatonic Elf to his feet.

" Take me now....and do not slow....." Tinuvel shoved him towards the
door all the while in
the back of his mind wishing Elrond had not chosen this day to venture
to the outland fences.

Weaving quickly through the still quiet hallways of the residence wing
Tinuvel followed the Elf, he had come to find out was called Revin,
until he halted at a closed door. The elder did not open the latch, but
merely stood staring.

Pushing past, Tinuvel shoved open the door, the smell of sweat and sweet
amniotic fluid assaulting him as he waded into the darkness fumbling
towards the balcony doors.

Cracking the door slightly to allow the woman fresh air to breath he
quickly lit the lamp on
the bedside table and turned toward the tangle of sheets upon the bed.

He could not have prepared himself for the sight before him even if he
had a thousand year’s warning. Revin’s mate lay prone upon the
blood-soaked pallet, her swollen belly hard and so pale as to be almost
translucent in contrast to the crimson stain that wicked the sheeting
between her legs.

Dropping the basket upon the floor, Tinuvel slipped his hands beneath
her neck and back and slid her up to towards the head of the bed, the
saturated pallet oozing at the movement.

Desperately the healer felt for life signs, searching the she-elf’s
delicate neck and wrist twice and finding none. Quickly, he slipped his
hand to her breast and felt for the thrum of her heart, but her chest,
though still warm to the touch, was still. She had indeed succumbed but
only moments ago... there would still be a chance for the child.

Tearing open the front of her blood spattered gown, Tinuvel laid his
head upon her belly and listened.....moving his head to the side he
listened again...faint flutter reached his ears
... all he needed to know, but he had very little time for the child
would run out of
oxygen once the blood had cooled.

“Revin!" Tinuvel shouted pulling the woman by the ankles towards him.
The Elf in the hallway did not respond. “Revin.....I need you ......do
not abandon your child.....!"

The elder elf stumbled into the room seemingly not effected by the sight
of his mate upon the bed.

“Revin...listen to me now........ your mate has passed to the Halls of
Waiting....but your
child still lives... though barely.. I need to take the child out,
mellon....do I have your
permission...?"

Revin stared blankly at the healer, his mouth moving but no sound coming
from his lips.

" REVIN!" Tinuvel shrieked, rolling up his sleeves and dragging the
basket to his side.

The overwrought Elf muttered an agreement and Tinuvel tossed him a
towel.

" Turn your head, mellon....," he ordered , and the Elf complied as the
incision was made.

Agonizing moments later, the lifeless body of a newborn female was laid
into its father’s arms and swaddled tightly with in the waiting cloth.

" I am sorry," Tinuvel anguished as Revin cradled his daughter.

The Elf bent low and kissed the blood smeared forehead and then handed
the tiny bundle to the healer, his eyes traveling to the prone form of
his life mate.

" I want to say good-bye," he choked out ,coming to the head of the bed
and stroking the
pale hair from her damp cheek.

Tinuvel nodded and pulled the infant closer to his chest and walked out
onto the balcony. The sun was pinking the sky, and in a nearby tree the
birds were just coming awake.
It seemed nothing slowed with this tragedy.....life still went oespiespite the loss.

Soft rays of morning sun washed over the Elfling's tiny face, and
Tinuvel took her hand in his and gently stroked the silken flesh with
his thumb. How perfect she was.

" Quel kaima....tithen pen", ( sleep well, little one) he murmured, as
the sun finally
appeared on the horizon. "I will remember you......."

Whispering a silent prayer to Mandos, Tinuvel collechimshimself and
returned the infant to
the arms of her grieving father, his own emotions too raw to even give
them further thought at the moment.