Note:

Thanks to Cairistiona for beta-reading *hugs*

-x-x-x-

All her creatures still slept – both the Kelvar and the Olvar. Just like all the Children of Iluvatar. But not for much longer; the shaping of Arda progressed well, and the world she had been creating together with her brothers and sisters had nearly reached its final form.

The moment of awakening was close. She would soon meet Iluvatar's children, and she rejoiced in the moment. The Firstborn would be very special, she could sense it. Beautiful, wise, with light in their eyes. And immortal.

And the Secondborn... they will be fragile. Mortal. Prone to disease.

She couldn't tell what the future would bring; none of her brothers and sisters knew everything – not even Manwe or Namo. But she could feel some things, just like they could. Yes, many of the Secondborn would commit great deeds and would be significant in the history of Arda. In strength, wisdom and nobility, some of them would even be equal to the Firstborn. Still, in spite of it, generally – they would be more frail. A lot of what would be harmless for the Firstborn would be able to destroy men.

Somehow... it didn't seem right to her.

Why would Iluvatar make some of his children so much more vulnerable than the others? Perhaps he had his reasons, and probably it was not up to her to question his ideas. But her thoughts kept coming back to the men. To the weaker ones. If only she could help them somehow!

But that was not in her power.

Or... maybe... hmmm...

-x-x-x-

She walked. The stars shone above sleeping Arda. The grass rustled beneath her feet. Her eyes were closed; she didn't have to look, because her spirit could see and feel the surroundings even without it. Her children – grass, bushes, trees – were all around her. Her arms were spread, tips of her fingers caressing the branches and leaves as she passed by. The scent of the forest filled her nostrils.

She walked. The leaves were soft, and the bark warm under her skin. Only a little bit more, and they will wake up. She just couldn't wait for that moment.

She stopped in front of one plant and closed her palms around it. She was calm, and her eyes were still closed.

Their feas touched and merged. She felt plant's life essence, flow of its juices, singing of its leaves. And then she spread her fea out of her being and poured a part of it into the plant. Enriched it, empowered it, enhanced it.

By the end of that day, many plants received a part of the spirit – and a part of the power – of their mother. Of the Valie that created them.

She opened her eyes and smiled. Yes. This will help.

She had done all that was in her power.

-x-x-x-

"This is not fair!" the little girl repeated for the third time. "The Elves cannot be sick, and we can get so many sicknesses. So I can't go out to play now. And their children always can. Why is that so?"

Grandma approached the girl's bed, sat next to her and touched her brow. Good! It was not too hot; everything will be fine.

"I have no answer to that, my love. But Eru surely had reasons for making us just as we are." She caressed girl's hair and took her hand. "However, even though we can get sick, we are not helpless against diseases."

The eyes of the little one opened wide. "Really?"

Grandma smiled. "Really. Here, look." She showed towards the tray she had put on the nightstand next to the bed. "Willow bark tea will ease the pain in your muscles and bones. Linden tea will lower your temperature. And besides them, there are many more plants with healing powers, which help us against different diseases."

She handed both cups, one at a time, to her six-year-old granddaughter. The little one obediently drank both teas, and then she frowned, as if in thought.

"How do you know all that, grandma?"

"I am the healer in our village, my love. I treat all those who get sick or injured. I learned all I know from the old healer before me, who passed to me all his knowledge."

The face of the girl was still serious. "Oh, all right then, if we have all those healing plants. Thanks to them, will I get better more quickly? So that I can play again soon?" Her eyes were full of hope.

"Yes, you will."

The girl smiled. "Great!" She clapped her hands, but then became pensive again. "And how come some plants are different than the others? How come some of them have healing powers?"

"I really do not know, sweetheart. But Eru created the whole world, so maybe that is another of his deeds. But you know, it doesn't really matter. It is only important that such plants do exist, and that they make our fight against sickness easier." Indeed, without them, it would be much harder, she thought. Many more lives would be lost. But these plants had something special in them, and saved them.

Whoever made them so special and healing... Eru, or someone else... thank you.