Sorrowed Returns
For an Elf time moved at varying rates. There were days that seemed the equivalent of a lifetime and there were years that flew by so quickly that before one knew it they had aged a century. The past day had certainly fallen into the first category for Lord Elrond.
After spending most of the day tending to Estel’s wounds, the Elf Lord had spent the night watching over his foster son. It had been a long and quiet night, no sound had been made by the injured human and no elf had wanted to intrude. A healer/patient relationship was one that existed on a delicate level and required much privacy, make the patient a family member and said relationship would increase ten fold.
Looking down on Estel, it was hard for Elrond to believe that this young man was the age that he was. His pale face and vulnerable appearance made him appear no more than fifteen winters as opposed to the twenty-two that he was. His heart ached at his son’s current condition, one so young should not have to endure such hardship.
A slight fever burned in the young man and would have been deadly had the horse not, mysteriously found its way into Imladris when it did. The fact that the animal had made it to Rivendell was evidence that he was either instructed on how to get there or was close enough to the elf dwelling when Estel lost consciousness that he happened upon it afterward. Or maybe this young man, lying so still upon the bed, had some measure of luck on his side.
This train of thought brought Legolas to mind. Elrond cringed at the realization that the Elf Prince was, as of now, unaccounted for. He dreaded what the loss of Legolas would do to his father. Thranduil and Elrond did have a rough history between them, but the young prince had forced the two to bury their differences. He also dreaded what the loss of the blonde archer would do to his sons and himself. He had become quite fond of Legolas and, despite his outward reactions, looked forward to the Prince’s visits as much as Estel and the twins.
Reaching out a tired hand, Elrond set his palm on the budding ranger’s forehead. Feeling the unnatural heat beneath his cool hand, he whispered a silent prayer to the Valar that both of the young one’s would survive their current predicament. Though no word had returned from Mirkwood as of yet, Elrond knew that the Prince had not returned home. Something in the back of his mind had been nagging at him and he had learned long ago not to ignore such feelings.
Estel didn’t stir under his touch and Elrond’s hand slid around his face coming to stop on his warm cheek. "Estel, you need to wake young one. Please."
Rather than receiving an answer from the unconscious young man, he was interrupted by a soft knock on the healing room door. Before he could answer the door swung quietly open revealing a blonde elf holding a silver tray of food.
"Erestor has informed me that you have not eaten since Estel arrived yesterday."
"Nay Glorfindel, I have not had the time nor the appetite." A sad smile appeared on Elrond’s face as he slid his chair away from Estel’s bed and rose to meet his long time friend.
Taking the tray from Glorfindel’s hands he crossed the room and set it upon the bedside table. Elrond looked the contents of the tray over before picking up a berry and slipping it between his lips. It held no flavor and the Elf Lord stopped himself from taking a second.
"Have my sons returned as well?" He said as he turned to face Glorfindel once again. The blonde warrior had taken Elrond’s seat next to Estel’s bed and was now looking over the pale face of the young man.
"Nay, not as of yet. They should be along shortly. I left word to have them join us upon their return." Glorfindel paused momentarily and Elrond watched the other elf as he studied Estel. "He looks so young."
It was interesting to the Elf Lord that Glorfindel had noticed the same thing about the injured human as he had moments earlier and wondered if the same thoughts were running through his friend’s head as had been formerly running through his own. He nodded in response and came to sit upon the foot of the bed. The two sat in silence for a long while, neither moving or speaking, just watching the man they had both grown to love as a son.
Once again the silence was interrupted by a knock on the chamber door and two identical, dark heads appeared in the doorway. Both looked tired and distraught and it was times like this when Elrond himself, had difficulty telling the twins apart. He rose from the bed and opened his arms to greet his sons. The two moved slowly across the room, their shoulders drooping and heads hung low and fell into their father’s embrace.
Elrond held his sons, savoring the moment. The three would allow themselves this brief moment of vulnerability then it would, once again, be time to become the great leader and warriors of this fair elven colony, which they all loved so much. Being powerful and influential left no room for outward signs of weakness, but the family had sworn, long ago, that they would allow one another those small moments.
Breaking away from his sons, Elrond turned back to the bed where Glorfindel continued to sit in silent observation. Elladan and Elrohir pulled chairs to the bedside and sat, each with an outstretched hand placed upon their human brother while Elrond returned to his spot seated at the foot of the bed.
"What news?" He had sat all night wondering what the three would find and could wait patiently no longer.
Glorfindel looked to Elrond, his face blank but his eyes revealing much. "I followed the trail left by Estel’s horse but they were lost just outside the Imladris border. We searched the area where the last prints were seen and found naught." He paused briefly and looked at each of the twins. "The storm has erased anything of use." Each twin nodded at this statement and the quiet exchange was not lost on Elrond.
He looked between the two of them and back to Glorfindel. "Can you speculate which direction they came from based on what you found?"
Glorfindel thought on this a moment and Elrond waited patiently for his assessment. "Nay. It would be a guess at best."
A soft sigh broke from the Elf Lord and he then turned his attention to his oldest son. "Elladan?"
"I journeyed east along the border. My patrol searched for anything unusual." He answered without much contemplation, then paused as the next sentence stuck in his throat. "I regret to report that we drew the same conclusion as Glorfindel. The storm wiped out everything in its bath. There is nothing useful along the eastern border."
Elrond contemplated this information, as did the other two conscious beings present. "Elrohir?"
Elrohir raised his head and focused his gaze on his father. The younger twin, who had always been the more compassionate and emotional of the two, held much sorrow in his eyes and Elrond’s heart lurched at the despair he saw there.
"My patrol traveled west." His voice was strong and hid well the stress that he felt. "We searched on and off the trails for any signs of the Prince. I concur with Glorfindel’s and Elladan’s assessment, the storm did much to hinder our search. There are no answers along the western border."
It was as Elrond had feared, there was nothing. "We are at an impasse I fear. There is naught left to do but to await word from Thranduil and pray that Estel wake soon and with answers."
As if on cue a quiet moan followed by a pained whimper sounded from the sick bed causing all four heads to spin into the direction of the sound. Estel’s eyes clenched tightly shut forming deep creases on his brow and he turned his head sluggishly from side to side.
Elrond slipped past Glorfindel and placed his hands on the sides of Estel’s face. "Estel, my son, open your eyes." The Elf Lord was answered by another soft moan and the injured human attempted weakly to pull his head from the elf’s grasp. "Estel please wake."
Elrond bent closer, his face now half an arm’s length from Estel’s. He watched as the young ranger struggled to open his eyes and he fought against him as he attempted to pull away from the healer’s grasp. He could feel the presence of his two sons and long time friend standing over him awaiting an answer. Minutes seemed like hours as each watched and hoped with apprehension.
"Come on my son. Awake." Elrond’s prodding finally paid off with the soft flutter of eyelids and then the revealing of hazy, gray eyes. "Estel?"
Estel eyes roved slowly over the four standing over him, his eyelids blinking heavily as he did. Elrond searched his eyes for any signs of awareness or recognition but the young man’s gaze was too glassy to obtain a specific answer. His eyes stopped for a long time on Glorfindel and Elrond quickly glanced over his shoulder at the blonde warrior. A look of unknowing passed over his face and he turned back to his injured son.
Gray, cloudy eyes met his and a scowl appeared on Estel’s face. "Legolas?" His voice was strained and raspy and Elrond could tell that it took a lot of energy for the young man to get the one name out.
"He is not here Estel. Can you tell us where he is?" Elrond rushed the words knowing that his son’s grasp on consciousness was fleeting.
Another whimper escaped and Estel’s gray eyes filled with tears. He pushed against Elrond’s hands and turned his head to the side. One final, heartbreaking moan rose from the injured man and Estel fell limp once again.
"Father?" Elrohir asked worriedly
"He has just lost consciousness, worry not." Elrond rose from his bent position and turned to face the other three as he spoke. "He seemed distraught over the absence of Legolas. I think that answers one question."
"Aye, they were obviously together when Estel was injured." Answered Glorfindel, taking his seat once again. "However, it does not tell us where the Prince is."
Elrond wrung his hands in frustration. "Unfortunately we will have to wait for Estel to mend before answers will be forthcoming."
Four identical sighs echoed about the healing room and four sets of eyes fell upon the injured, unconscious young ranger. Elrond’s chin fell to his chest and he took Estel’s hand in his own.
Let us just hope that the wait will not be long.