Téci melméva or love letters

Chapter seven Being ill

Elrohir released another curse when the wind nearly gripped his cloak from him but no matter what had happened so far, he still was on his horse and in one piece. He knew he should count his blessings and search for a cover but his eyesight was limited in this storm. Even though it seemed to be dying, it did so in an agonizingly slow way.

Suddenly his horse whinnied and Elrohir gasped when he saw Asfaloth running past him the next second. That one second was enough to tell the twin the horse was spooked and would not be stopped easily and right now he didn’t care for the animal. He hadn’t seen Glorfindel on it.
He calmed himself down by saying it could have several reasons: the blond had found shelter and Asfaloth had broken out; the blond had lost his grip on the horse before he had found shelter and many more. He knew there oth other, more gloomy reasons as well, but he needed to concentrate on the better ones for his own mood.

He backtracked the trail as good as he was able, figuring it would lead him to Glorfindel. He only hoped it wouldn’t lead him in circles.

At some point he smiled, seeing a c. “G. “Glorfindel must be in there.”
Then he frowned, seeing no smoke rise from the chimney and his heart sped up. /Please let nothing have happened to Glorfindel./

He went back to the trail and saw several before the cabin. It confirmed his suspicions about the circling way the horse had taken. He pushed back his hood and strained his sight, looking for any possible clue. To his luck lightning struck and illuminated the area, enabling him to see white hair on a tree. “Asfaloth came by there. Let’s take it. If I don’t see Glorfindel after a minute it is the wrong trail.”

He softly kicked his horse in motion and the animal complied, battling the elements as hard as its master did. The wind forced Elrohir to lean on his mount in order to see the road.

Suddenly the horse stopped and ignored Elrohir’s kicks. It threw its head to the side, whinnying softly, fearful. Elrohir followed its gaze and gasped, seeing a shape at the side of the road.

He jumped of, keeping the reigns in his hand and kneeled besides the lifeless shape. “You are most fortunate, my friend.” He noticed the pointy ears sticking out of the blond hair. Fearful he turned the elf around and gasped when he stared into Glorfindel’s face.
His eyes quickly roamed the body and he noticed at least three injuries, one of them on the head, and he closed them in guilt. It was all his fault. But he forbade himself to be consumed by guilt. He had to help the blond before it was too late. He fervently prayed there was still time and that the blond would life.

He picked up the body and planted him on the horse, getting on behind the unconscious elf. He noticed the mud on the tunic and from the pattern he could tell the blond had crawled before passing out. “If you hadn’t had that head injury you would have made it to the cabin.”

The horse went as quickly as was safe and Elrohir swiftly brought his cargo inside, pulling the animal behind him. He didn’t care if it got a bit smelly in the room; he wanted the horse in the same room as he was, dry and safe. And, more importantly, at hand in case Glorfindel needed to be brought to the healers.

He carefully placed the blond on the bed and started the fire, heating the place. Next he removed the wet and dirty clothes, examining him at the same time. When he was done he retrieved a pouch and prepared some healing salve. “I’ve never been more grateful ada told us how to use herbs to heal. And that you’ve always forced us to have them at hand.” Talking to the blond while he was working relaxed him.

Elrohir carefully washed the head injury and applied the salve before wrapping it in bandages. “I am so glad it is not as grave as I feared. And your wrist and ankle will heal as well, though you will run before you can write again.”
He frowned. “I am worried about that small gash at your side. What caused it?” He saw something sticking out and carefully removed it, hissing when he saw it was an arrow head. Involuntarily he looked around for intruders, but saw no one. He sighed relieved when he noticed it was an old elven arrow head. “No poison, that is good.”
He looked at the roof, where the rain gave a concert. “And in this case the rain was good, for it probably kept the infection away. But on the other hand you could have easily have contracted a cold out there. I must monitor you carefully.”

He finished his medical examination and application and, after placing the blankets around Glorfindel’s form, turned his attention to the horse. He now could safely remove it from its gear and the horse whinnied gratefully and nuzzled his face.
Elrohir patted it and steered it to the door. “I am sorry, but I want Glorfindel to benefit most from the heat the fire provides and the wind has been trying to open this door for a while now. With you leaning against it, it will not open and thus keep the warmth in.” The animal didn’t care and simply laid down.

Now that elf, horse and equipment and supplies were taken care of Elrohir took care of himself. He removed his wet clothes and shivered a bit when he walked to the huge trunk. He smiled when he saw two heavy blankets in it. He happily pulled them out. He placed one around himself and walked back to the bed. Glorfindel was now sleeping beneath two thinner ones and Elrohir replaced one of them for the heavy one. The thin one he brought to the horse. “Here, you take this one.” He settled himself in front of the fire and the flames easily lulled him into sleep.

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Ereineldo jumped from up when he heard a knock on the door. He carefully cracked the door open and frowned when he saw Elladan. The twin smiled at him. “Am I disturbing?”
Ereineldo blinked. “You should be in bed.”
Elladan shrugged. “I’m better. And I need to apologize. I lashed outyou you for no reason at all. Forgive me?” He saw the shock at those words enter the other’s eyes and smiled warmly before swaying a bit. That made the other elf open his door and support Elladan. “You are not better. What made you came all this way here? Into bed.”

He dragged the twin to his own bed and shook his head. “And where is the potion you need to take?”
Elladan sighed. “It is long finished, for which I am happy. And why shouldn’t I apologize to you? I behaved wrong so I should apologize.”
Ereineldo shrugged. “You were ill; are ill. I am getting your father. You should not be walking around so when you are confined to bed.”
Elladan wanted to protest but thought better of it. He did not know why but there was something he was missing.

The time it took the other to get dressed Elladan used to study him. Elladan concluded Ereineldo might not be referred to as a beauty, he did possess something that set him apart from other elves. It wasn’t the copper coloured hair and the face, Elladan noticed, but the combination of the deep, dark brown eyes, that seemed to be in their own world, and the delicately shaped lips that gave the strange elf something sensual.

As Elladan waited for the other to return, undoubtedly with his father in his wake, he looked around and thought about the elf. He noticed the room to be tiny, yet cosy. There was a subtle touch that had given the room an extra dimension. A small painting at the wall, a truck for the clothes instead of a wardrobe made the room look bigger than it really was, a figurine at the right place, a small dressing table, which was also used as a desk. Elladan saw a lot of items that had more than one function and were probably used in all of them.

This small look inside the other elf made him smile. In the few minutes he spend looking around him he learned so much about the other he could scarce belief it.

Next he started thinking on the inhabitant of the room; a person he always called a ghost but now, for the first time he realised why. It was a shock to him to find it out. “Ai, Elbereth help me. I’ve fallen in love with you. Well, I don’t know who my admirer is, but he’s not the one who’s stolen my heart so sneakily not even I noticed.” He sighed, feeling lost and lonely. “But now what happens? What do I do? What do I want?” He could only answer the third question and he smiled. “Aiya, Ro, where are you when I need you? Please be all right. And bring Glorfindel home.”

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Glorfindel groaned before he woke up. After blinking a couple of times he realised he was indoors. And his pain felt less and he could clearly feel the bandages.

He cocked his head from one side to the other, smiling when he realised he was still on Imladrian grounds. And inside a cabin to be precise. /I can’t remember making it there… someone must have found me. But who?/

On his left side he saw the horse and smiled, recognizing Elrohir’s steed. But then he groaned again. “O no…” He could not think of any other reason for Elrohir to come after than to bring him back. /And he will start talking nonsense again. How will I cope?/

He realised he had not yet seen the twin himself, only his horse and he wondered where the Peredhel was; the cabin wasn’t large. He intended to cock his head forward and look there but he had to abort the movement halfway due to the pain. A small scream left his lips.

Elrohir woke up instantly and, after realising where he was, he stood and went to the bed. Seeing the blond conscious made him extremely happy. “Glorfindel, you are awake. Don’t move your head too much; you hit it rather hard when you fell. What happened?”
Glorfindel groaned again. “I couldn’t see a thing and I tripped and strained my ankle.” He groaned. “Some warrior I am.”
Elrohir shook his head and wiped the blond strands out of Glorfindel’s face. “The conditions were against you. You tripped over a branch and your feet landed in a small hole, making you lose balance. It would not have happened had you seen it.”

Glorfindel smiled for the gentle words and cl his his eyes to get rid of the annoyingly bright light. Elrohir understood and moved his body in between the blond and the fire, hoping it might take some light away, which it did.

Glorfindel opened his eyes again and looked at him with a mixture of gratitude and trepidation. “Thank you. You saved my life.”
Elrohir shook his head. “Anyone would have done that. And I hardly can be rewarded for saving your life when I’m the one responsible for endangering it.” He smiled sadly. “I’m really sorry, Glorfindel. Elladan received another message when you were gone. I was too blinded to see straight. Can… can you forgive me?”
Glorfindel smiled. “If you promise not to repeat those silly ideas again.”
Elrohir laughed and nodded. “With all my heart, Glorfindel. Never. I should have remembered you would not write letters. If there is an elf that holds your heart you would speak it yourself or hold your tongue.” He poured some miruvor in a mug and handed it to the blond. “Here, drink. It’s just that those letters clearly showed Elladan’s mystery lover is fading and I….”
Glorfindel laughed, though the motion pained him a little. “And you got it into your head I was the one and therefore fading.” He smiled warmly at the twin. “You were acting so stubbornly because you were concerned. It warms me.”

Elrohir grinned. “Nay, that’s the miruvor. How are you feeling? I hope I didn’t miss any injuries.”
Glorfindel frowned, recalling his accident. “My ankle, my wrists, my side and my head.” He frowned. “I just don’t know what injured my side. It was sharp, but what was it?”
Elrohir smiled sadly. “An old arrow head. I can only bless the Valar it is Elven.”
Glorfindel groaned. “That ought to teach us to pick up broken arrows as well.” He yawned and his eyes were already losing their focus.

Elrohir smiled and rearranged the blankets, keeping Glorfindel warm. “Sleep, you need it. I’ll watch over you.”
Glorfindel, relaxed and injured, smiled warmly. “Diolla lle, vanimaer.”

Elrohir’s eyes widened at the words. He shook his head, unable to trust his ears. /He couldn’t have said that. He couldn’t! Why would he call me beautiful?/ He shook his head again. /But he did… He called me beautiful. But why? Does he think I am my twin? That I am Elladan? But no, he did not write those letters… … … Or is he really in love with him, and is jealous of it? It is possible. He did behave strange whenever I mentioned the letters. Oh, Glorfindel, are you really in love with my twin? And why does that make me angry?/

He realised he was shivering and regretfully went back to the fire to get more heat. He laid down and tried to slee
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Elrond’s worry increased when he walked in the room and he hurried to his son. “What were you thinking, wandering through the corridors when you should be in bed? Do I need to tie you down to make sure you rest?”
Elladan smiled and shook his head. “I’m sorry, ata, I needed to apologize to Ereineldo. I had to…”
Elrond shook his head and sighed. “Well, I for one am very glad he at least possesses some sense, since you so obviously do not.” He hissed when he felt his son’s skin. “You’re burning up. You’ve been in a draft.”
“The corridors adjoining these halls are rather drafty, my lord.”
Elrond turned to Ereineldo. “Why have I never been informed?”
Ereineldo shrugged. “Full elves do not feel the cold, my lord, so it matters little to us.”
Elrond nodded. “Still, it could harm an injured elf and that we can do without. I will make the necessary arrangements.” He frowned at Elladan’s smugle ale and he raised his eyebrow.
Elladan grinned. “See, I did good. Without me you wouldn’t know.”
Elrond shook his head. “You won’t be so smug tomorrow morn. And you are not moving until I have made you a potion to kill the cold.”
Elladan groaned. “You can’t confine me to bed, ata. This isn’t my bed.”
Before Elrond could answer Ereineldo solved his problem. “Your cold will only get worse if you go through the corridors again. I can sleep somewhere else.”
Elrond smiled. “Thank you. But for now please watch my too stubborn son. I don’t want him making himself worse.” Ereineldo nodded and sat down.

When Elrond was gone the servaddraddressed Elladan. “Why was it so important to apologize? You could have waited.”
Elladan groaned and sneezed. “Aiya, this is getting worse. Perhaps I can blame Ro…” He laughed at Ereineldo’s expression. “What?”
Ereineldo shook his head. “I thought you had learned by now not to do that. You used to try it every time you had caught a cold.”
Elladan coughed and smiled. “I don’t remember. My whole childhood is kind of a big blur; some images are clear, but they are not many.”

Ereineldo frowned. “Odd; I remember my childhood clearly. The time I spend with my father in his smithy. Or with nana in the herbal garden. And playing on the square before the healer’s house. But why am I telling you that? You can do without my ramblings.” He shook his head, but was unable to remove the happy smile of remembrance.
Elladan smiled and shook his head. “Not at all. I like hearing about children and other elves’ childhoods, probably because I can’t remember my own very well. Where did you spend it?”
Ereineldo smiled. “At Doriath.”
Elladan’s eyes widened. “Doriath? But ata’da grew up there. Did you know him?”
Ereineldo smiled vaguely. “Lord Celeborn? Only by name and face. Not personally.”
Elladan couched again and waved the concern away. “I’ll be fine once I drink that nasty concoction. Did you stay in Doriath long?”
Ereineldo shrugged. “About a hundred years. My uncle took me with him to Lindon, where I went in King Gil-Galad’s service.”
Elladan’s eyes warmed. “Father never talks about that time? Was he already there? Did you know him? Saw him?”
Ereineldugheughed. “No, he wasn’t there, but he arrived shortly after I did and I became his servant. After the last Alliance I followed him here.”

Elladan smiled wy aty at him. “I never realised you were that old. Why don’t you talk about it? The tales you could have told us when we were little… you can still tell us.” Suddenly his eyes saddened. “Or don’t you want to?”
Elrond just entered and shook his head. “Don’t you let him talk you into anything, Ereineldo. And if he starts pulling rank on you: you serve me, not him.”
Ereineldo laughed, though it lacked warmth and Elladan noticed.

Suddenly he remembered Márcaron’s words. “ did did Márcaron come to you already? Talk to you perhaps?”
Elrond looked at him in worry. “Aye, he was about to tell me something when Ereineldo entered. I had the impression it was important but Márcaron said it could wait if you needed my attention. Why?”
Elladan sighed. He wanted to talk to his father but it was too difficult to do so now. “It cannot, ata.”
Elrond sighed. “Well, it will have to wait until I am done here.” He groaned. “O no, I forgot the athelas.”
Ereineldo stood up instantly. “I’ll get it, my lord.” Before Elrond could respond he was already out the door and down the corridor.

Elrond shrugged and looked at Elladan, who had grasped his shoulder. “Ata, he’s fading.”
Elrond cocked his head, unsure what Elladan was talking about. “Man ná?”
Elladan sighed. “I don’t know. I don’t know who Márcaron was thinking about at the time, though I asked him about Ereineldo. O father, what do I do?”
Elrond was flabbergasted. Now what was Elladan on about? He looked more puzzled than he actually was and Elladan rolled his . “E. “Ereineldo! I love him, ata. Don’t ask me why. I just found out myself. But I want him. What do I do?”
Elrond shook his head. “You are having a fever, Elladan. It clouds your mind.”
Elladan shook his head. “Nay, I love him. I’m unsure about anything and everything else, I don’t even know up from down anymore and you look rather blown but I am sure I love him. What do I do? Should I tell him? Court him? Seduce him? And what about my anonymous admi”
”
Elrond shook his head. “You’re fever is getting worse fast; the sooner Ereineldo is here with the athelas the better. And I can’t give you any answers. And even if I could you would not be able to remember them. Try to sleep, I’ll wake you when it is time for your medicine.”

At that moment Ereineldo ran back inside, panting heavily. “I’m sorry it took so long. I am not used to running anymore.”
He handed over the athelas and watched Elrond mix the herbs and add them to the hot water. “There. Is there a way to keep this warm?”
Ereineldo nodded and took over the pot, bringing it to the fire.
Elrond smiled at the rather human way of keeping things warm, but he didn’t mind. “He needs one cup every thirty minutes for the first three hours. After that, one every hour. I shall check on him later, but I need to find Márcaron now.” Ereineldo nodded and promised Elrond to look after Elladan for him.

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Even though the storm lessened and had now nearly died out it did little to stop Elrohir’s shivering, which was getting worse. Glorfindel groaned as he woke up and Elrohir barely managed to stand up and walk to the bed to check on the blond.

Glorfindel noticed the flacon shake as Elrohir handed him the miruvor and he frowned. Seeing sweat on the Peredhel’s brow and the shivers that rocked the body his conclusion was swiftly drawn. “You’ve retrieved a cold.”
Elrohir shook his head. “Nay, it is just cold. It will pass.” Glorfindel shook his head and wanted to sit up. Elrohir instantly prevented the movement. “Nay, you are injured at your side. You cannot sit up, Glorfindel. Are you hungry? I’ve got some Lembas and hot broth.”
Glorfindel shook his head. “All right, this is what you do: you get all the Lembas and miruvor within reach and then you climb into this bed. You can’t ignore a chill, Elrohir, lest it turns into a fever.”
Elrohir shook his head and stubbornly went back to the fire to add more wood. “I’m fine. You need not worry about me.” His eyes nearly bulged from their sockets when a rather loud sneeze proved him wrong.

Glorfindel groaned and attempted to get up again. Elrohir staggered back and pushed him back down. “Now stay put! You’ll only aggravate your wounds.”
Glorfindel sighed. “Only if you join me.”
Elrohir shook his head, staggering over to the food supply. “There is no reason for me to do that. The blanket the the fire produce enough warmth.”
Glorfindel growled at the show of Peredhel stubbornness. “Are you getting us food? Then bring the herbs as well.”
Elrohir’s worried gaze settled on him. “Are your wounds reopening?”

He made it back in no time and placed the herbs, food and miruvor on the side table, before lifting the blanket. At this moment Glorfindel’s arms pulled him down and the blanket back in place. “And now you are staying here. You have contracted a cold, Elrohir, and you cannot ignore it.”
Elrohir growled at fought to get free but stilled his actions when he realised he was adding to Glorfindel’s discomfort.
Glorfindel sighed. “Aiya, little one, I know you want to take care of me, but you cannot do that when you need some care yourself.”
Elrohir’s look was stubborn. “But I did this to you and I should see you well.”
Glorfindel nodded. “And how will you do thaen sen sick yourself?” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Why don’t we compromise? You stay in this bed; we have everything we need within reach, and when the fire needs new logs you’re the one to stagger there, for I am immobilised. Is that to your satisfactory?”
Elrohir shrugged but nodded and actually sighed in bliss when he laid down completely. Glorfindel pulled him close, letting him draw warmth from his body. “I still don’t agree. You need your strength to heal.”
Glorfindel laughed. “I can spare a little to keep you warm and you feel so warm to me you are better then thirty hot water bottles.”

Before long they both fell asleep.

End chapter 07
TBC

Translations:
Diola lle vanimaer means : thank you, beautiful one
Man ná means : who is