Elrond woke without transition. His kind brown eyes, at one moment glanced over with elvish sleep, focused. Frowning, the elf shifted and he felt Celebrian detangle herself from his arms and sit up as well. Before he could ask her what had woken them, a soft knock against their bedroom door called his attention to the reason.

"I'll take it," he said gently to his wife before he quickly stood. There were only a few reasons why someone would knock at his bedroom door at this time of the night. None of them would allow him to ignore it. Moving around the bed, he pushed his long hair behind his ears before arriving at the sturdy wooden door. He opened it and barely reacted quick enough to catch the figure falling towards him, being bereft of the support the closed door had offered. Silver hair shone in the dark and alerted Elrond to who his late-night visitor was: There was no Noldor in Rivendell with light hair and even the hair of the few Sindar living in the Hidden Valley, such as the absent balrog-slayer Glorfindel, was several shades darker.

"Soread," he called out in surprise. He could feel the elf attempting to straighten and free himself from Elrond's supportive arms, but the healer was having none of it and instead quickly directed the cartographer back into the living room, helping him to settle on the couch.

"Forgive my intrusion, my Lord," a soft, deeply embarrassed voice rang through the darkness, "I did not wish to disturb you at this time."

"Hush!" The Noldo ordered quickly, already having felt the heat radiating from the mapper. Soread had a blanket wrapped around his shoulders and yet he was still shaking and huddling into himself as if though he was incredibly cold.

"Since when do you have a fever?" Elrond demanded to know, moving around the living room to light candles. Celebrian joined them, her long hair open and falling over her shoulders down to her waist. She took the kindling out of Elrond's hands.

"Take care of him," she demanded instead, nodding towards the shivering wood elf who had not looked up to look at her. Soread appeared embarrassed for having disturbed his hosts, yet Elrond was very glad about it for the cartographer actively asking for help was more than he had truthfully expected from his young guest.

"I don't know," Soread replied to the Noldo's earlier question. "I had a headache yesterday evening but I thought it was because I had … because I was … upset. I felt a bit cold but I just took an extra blanket and went to sleep early."

"Alright," Elrond spoke, sitting next to the mapper and placing a hand on his forehead. He really was burning up. "I would like to see your leg again and then give you a tea against the fever. I am afraid there is nothing else I can do right now as you having a fever is actually a good thing, for it proves your body is fighting the infection. We will only have to worry if your fever rises too high. You need to drink a lot of water and rest."

The younger elf nodded, looking down. "Forgive me for interrupting you, my Lord. I should have known all that."

Elrond did not even know what to say anymore with this elf constantly apologizing. Placing a firm hand on his shoulder, he caused the traveller to look up and meet his gaze with glassy silver eyes.

"I am glad you came and woke me. I would like to ask you to do it again should you feel unwell. And please, stop calling me 'my Lord', mellon-nin." The last comment caused a wry smile to slip on Soread's face and Elrond stood to get fresh bandages and make the tea. He did not look well at all, the injured traveller, his skin sweaty, the tips of his ears glowing red and a confused haze obscuring the sharpness of his eyes. It was by instinct that Celebrian sat down next to him and placed a comforting hand on his back and rubbed him. The cartographer was too exhausted to even react to the no doubt unused touch and instead just pulled the blanket tighter around himself. Celebrian brushed sweaty hair out of his forehead and looked at the shivering elf sympathetically.

Elrond returned and first handed Soread his tea before he kneeled to inspect his leg. He had collected his hair into a quick braid to keep it out of his face as he worked. While he had been away, he had also checked up on the medication he had set up as soon as he first treated Soread's injury. Sadly enough, the medication needed to sit for nine days, only five of which had already passed. Even if he were to apply the medicine, it would not have any effect. However, as the fever was not as high that Elrond would consider it dangerous yet, he hoped Soread's body would be able to fight the infection successfully. At least, the fever showed the elf's immune system was reacting. Which was remarkable considering Elrond knew how meagre his diet had been for many years now.

While Elrond changed the bandages after applying the fresh salve, Soread fell into an uneasy sleep, brought by thanks to the sleeping herbs the healer had added to the fever-reducing tea.

"Will he be alright?" Celebrian worried, gently brushing a loose strand of hair out of Soread's face. Looking up and watching her movement, Elrond came to realise that he, like his wife, worried about his guest in a very personal way. Despite only having known the cartographer for a few days, the mapper had already grown to him with his amicable demeanour and his sincereness in his worries.

"I hope so," he admitted, wrapping up the bandages. Standing, he looked out of the window but only the darkness behind the glass greeted him and told him it was still deep at night. Sighing, Elrond stood next to his sleeping charge and then manoeuvred him into his arms. Straightening, the elf lying limply in his arms, his head resting against Elrond's chest, the healer waited for his wife to gather the blanket that was halfway in his arms and halfway falling onto the ground. The elf was far lighter than he should be considering his height and therefore the Noldo had no trouble carrying the still sleeping mapper back into his own room, settling him into his bed and covering him with blankets which were quickly pulled around the slender form by Soread's slim fingers.

"I will get changed and then stay with him," Celebrian said, turning to leave the room.

"He does not need supervision, my love. It will be fine if we check on him once every hour or so," Elrond smiled, amused about her concern.

"But I want to stay with him," Celebrian said in a tone of voice as if though she was daring him to object. Her husband, however, was not going to do anything of the like and just raised his hands in surrender.

"I will be in my study if you need me. And I will come to check on him in an hour," Elrond said, deciding he would not find the peace of mind to fall asleep anytime soon anyway and therefore he could simply start with his day early.

While Celebrian and Elrond both got changed, Soread was in a deep sleep, his dreams dark and tangled, distorted by his troubles and the healer's advice ghosting through his mind.

The wood elf travelling strange lands woke slowly and to the sound of rustling leaves. Blinking heavily, he barely had time to wonder why his eyes had been closed in the first place before he was greeted by a tall elven Lord, his demeanour as strong as it was kind.

"Soread," Elrond spoke, relief colouring the dark voice. "You are awake."

Carefully prodding himself up to sit in his bed, almost drowning in the sheets, the mapper tried to recall the last few days. He did not remember as much as he would like and most importantly, he did not remember how long ago it was that he had woken up his hosts in the middle of the night.

"You have been here for five days," the healer spoke, sitting on the edge of the bed and leaning over to place a hand against Soread's forehead. The elf flinched away at first but after seeing the patience in Elrond's eyes, he moved back to his earlier position and allowed the Lord of Imladris to touch his skin. The healer nodded in approval. "Your fever got worse two days ago. We had troubles bringing your temperature back down. I do not expect you to remember much of it. You were having nightmares though, so your throat might feel a bit sore."

As the healer mentioned it, Soread did indeed feel pain as he swallowed. Instinctively, he raised his hand to rest against his throat.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine, my Lord," Soread spoke and this time his voice was not soft because he was embarrassed of the fact he was sitting in his nightclothes in his bed in front of the great elven healer who had probably spent a lot of time to aid him in the last couple of days, but simply because his throat would not allow him to speak any louder.

"You do realise this answer tells me nothing?" Elrond reprimanded gently.

"Headache, sore throat and sensitive skin," Soread listed, suddenly noticing the open window and door. Apparently, they had just been airing out the room, for it was not cold enough for the window to have been open for a longer time.

"Your leg?"

"No pain, my Lord. It feels rather warm but does not cause me any discomfort."

"I am glad to hear that. Still, I would like for you to drink this tea. Be warned, it tastes awful. I have mixed the medicine into it that is helping your body fight off the infection. And I would like to have another look at your leg."

Now, the traveller noticed that Elrond had been carrying a steaming mug which he had placed on the bedside table as he had sat down. He made to lean over to grasp it but his host was quicker, placing the cup into his cool hands.

While Elrond once again checked the wound and announced the infection had in fact retreated and that the wound would heal nicely from now on, Soread tried to apologize for the inconvenience he had caused – twice – before he listened to the healer who told him in very serious tone and no uncertain words that he did not wish to hear any more apologies.

The following days, the healer was astounded to see just how quickly the leg wound healed. Had anyone told him about the process, he would have been very sceptical about the validity of that information. Seeing it with his own eyes though, he could not deny that Soread possessed a very powerful healing rate now that the infection had been fought off. The wood elf spent a lot of time with Celebrian while Elrond worked, accompanying her to the school and speaking with Imladris' children with practised ease. Also, after the Lady handed him parchment, ink and other drawing supplies, the cartographer began drawing a lot. This time, he did not show Elrond the maps he drew, simply taking it away every time the healer asked, smiling and saying that the Lord of Imladris would get to see the work soon enough. In the evenings, he often joined them in the Hall of Fire. They did not speak about the letter anymore, though both Noldor had seen Soread deep in thought with his letter in hand.

"Good morning, my Lord, my Lady," Soread spoke his daily greeting with perfect politeness.

Two weeks had passed since he had woken from his fever. And while he had been eating decent amounts of food ever since then, Elrond was still dismayed to see how little the elf weighed and how little he could eat before claiming he was done. However, he knew the elf was trying, if not for his own sake than for his host's.

"Good morning," Celebrian replied but her eyes were narrowed. She noticed how stiff the cartographer held himself, stiffer than he had in recent days.

Slowly, the mapper took his customary seat.

"My Lady –," he began but Celebrian shook her head.

"Eat first," she demanded, already guessing what this conversation would be about. Her guest smiled and dipped his head before he reached for some bread and filled his mug with tea. After complying with the fair Lady and eating a full breakfast, Soread put his cutlery down, adjusting it so it would lie parallel to each other and orthogonal to the edge of the table.

"My Lady, my Lord," he spoke and gained his hosts' attention. "I am deeply grateful that you so graciously opened up your home to me. I do not wish to imagine what would have happened had I not been fortunate enough to stumble upon your beautiful city. Sadly enough, I have nothing to repay you your good deeds. I hope, I do not seem ungrateful if I now ask to leave in the morrow, for I am. Words cannot describe my gratitude for your kindness and aid. However, as much peace as this rest has brought upon my soul, I yearn to travel once more. My maps are calling me and I have troubles staying here without work."

"You need not repay us, Soread," Celebrian spoke sadly. She had enjoyed the wood elf's presence and was reluctant to let him leave so soon. Yet, Soread was not bound to her in any way other than friendship, and therefore, she would not ask him to stay back for her worries' sake.

"I understand that you wish to go. Winter is approaching and as soon as the first snow falls, the High Pass will be blocked," Elrond spoke slowly, his eyes searching the elf sitting opposite. Celebrian saw Soread lower his gaze to his plate. While she knew nothing about her guest's trouble, she did know that her husband had advised him to return to Greenwood and with his words, Elrond had hinted at his advice once more. Though Celebrian hoped to spend the remaining day with the cartographer, she also understood her husband's wish to speak with the mapper once more.

"I have to check up on the school this morning. However, Soread, please, I would love to spend the afternoon with you, if you so wish? I would like to have the time for a proper goodbye," Celebrian therefore stated before she rose to her feet. Kissing Elrond on his soft lips, she squeezed his shoulder in an encouraging gesture and afterwards nodded demandingly in Soread's direction, her gaze interlocked with her husband's.

"I will talk to him," the healer whispered back to quietly answer her demand and Celebrian smiled slightly before she left the dining room.

"Would you mind if we went back up into my room?" Soread asked, apparently understanding that Elrond wished to talk about his family once more. Elrond smiled upon hearing how Soread referred to the chambers they had given to the cartographer. The way he used the simple words spoke of a trust Elrond had barely ever before heard in the wood elf's words. The dark-haired elf was glad that he and Celebrian had been able to offer Soread a refuge where he felt save.

"Of course," Elrond nodded and rose to his feet. They walked up in silence and as the healer watched his charge from the side, he could barely even notice the limp the injured traveller had sported ever since his arrival anymore.

"Are you going to go home?" Elrond cut straight to the point once he had settled in his by now customary seat with Soread sitting in the armchair opposite.

"I don't know," the greenwood elf was quick to answer. "What if they do not want me there?" He asked after a long silence. Elrond sighed. He had already told the young elf he very much doubted it, yet, he could not promise anything.

"You are very welcome to come back here, should that be the case. Celebrian and I would love to have you," he therefore only offered a place for Soread to come back to. "We don't need these chambers. We will keep everything as it is until you return."

A shy smile spread on Soread's lips for a moment, but then he sighed once again. He did not thank Elrond and the elf Lord was not sure if it was because the cartographer knew deep inside that his family would not cast him away or simply because he did not fully believe the healer's words. Or maybe if it simply slipped his mind as he was too worried.

In the end, Elrond was unable to do more than encourage Soread to travel back to Greenwood. When they met Celebrian for lunch, the elf from Greenwood, the cartographer gave himself calm, joyful and open, not letting his composure slip even a single time.

"Sleep well," Celebrian said sadly in the evening, embracing a surprised Soread before she stood and left his chambers which she had occupied until late at night.

The next morning went by quickly. Elrond had arranged for provisions to be packed and had readied a horse for the cartographer. After a quick and light breakfast, Soread gathered his arms and went outside.

"I thank you for your hospitality, my Lord, my Lady. And your aid," the mapper repeated his thanks, bowing deeply.

"Soread," Elrond spoke softly, guiding the elf away from his wife. Looking deep into silver eyes, he spoke once more: "Promise me, Soread, that one day you will return and tell me your brother's name."

"One day, my Lord, one day I will," the young elf replied seriously but his eyes betrayed his uncertainty as to when that day would come.

"Take care and remember, you are always welcome here," Elrond said, hugging the elf who stiffened at first, before returning the hug.

After saying goodbye to Celebrian in a similar fashion, he took his bag with provisions and turned to leave the courtyard. At the bridge that guided into the forest, he once more turned. Raising one hand in farewell, the cartographer turned away from the beautiful city of Imladris and left. His sure steps led him through the save forests. He avoided the dangerous path alongside the mountain. Instead, he climbed down into the valley. Taking the road, he went south until the road crossed with another. The wood elf, long since lost to his people, looked down the road to the east where he knew his home to be, the vast, lush forest of Greenwood with its high and mighty trees, sheltering the elves living within. Then, he looked down the road to the west, the door to Eriandor, a land he had not yet travelled.

Sighing deeply, Soread turned right, leaving the way home behind. It was not time yet, he told himself, ignoring the fact that it was only his failing courage what caused him to wander this way.

"Forgive me, Lord Elrond," he spoke softly to himself, feeling as though he was betraying the great elven Lord who had so graciously offered him his advice. Advice he was not strong enough to take.

And so, his wide steps carried Soread west into Eriandor. Soon, the cartographer was immersed in scouting the area and slowly a map formed from the tip of his quill and was drawn carefully onto a wide sheet of parchment. He felt calm doing what he loved so much, but more often when before would his thoughts stray back to Greenwood; the healer's advice still vividly in his thoughts, yet ignored time and time again. Nay, the map came first, he told himself, wandering into the swamps, his maps carefully encased in their leather tubes. His path would not wound east of the mountains in the months to come. The map came first.

Elrond was about to return to his chambers to freshen up and relax for a few minutes before he went to dinner when he stopped in the hallway. His eyes had settled on the wooden door ornated with the relief of a large tree that led to the chambers Soread had occupied during his time here. The cartographer had left Imladris a week ago and since then the healer had taken the time to catch up on his work. As his children and Glorfindel would return either tonight or tomorrow, he had wanted to have free time to spend with them. Despite this, he had already come to miss the cartographer. He and Celebrian had talked about Soread several times since his departure, his wife commenting on how she hoped the mapper had found his way home to Greenwood.

Elrond had promised Soread to keep his chambers as they were in case he should return and therefore he had not entered them since his guest had left. Yet, somehow, he felt the urge to do so now. The healer knew that the cartographer had not changed anything and had not left anything behind either, considering just how small his pack had been in the first place. Well, the sheets needed changing either way, he reasoned, so why not do it now? Somehow, he did not wish to ask a servant to clean through the chambers because even though the mapper had not put an individual touch to the chambers, he still felt as if it would not be right for a stranger to enter Soread's refuge. He himself had spent countless hours sitting at the elf's bedside when he had been sick or accommodating the settee as they spoke.

It was with a sure feeling that Elrond therefore opened the door to the chambers. Looking around the sitting room, his eyes almost instantly fell on the low table in the middle of the room. An orderly stack of parchment was lying on it and even from the door, Elrond could see it was a map of sorts.

Curious, and a bit surprised, for he had not expected to find anything, the Lord of Imladris stepped into the room, letting the door fall shut behind him.

A small note lay upon the stack and even just glancing beside the note, Elrond already saw that it was a map lying on the table. Reigning in his curiosity, he reached for the note and focused on the few slanted words written there.

"This is all I can offer," he read aloud, the message signed with the intertwined D and S Soread had also used to sign the letter to his parents. Placing the note on the side, Elrond took the stack of parchment in his hand. He smiled upon looking down at it. There, on the firm parchment, was a map of the first floor of Elrond's house. And again, the healer was astonished by Soread's skill. The only decoration on the map was a small picture of the Hall of Fire in the left hand lower corner and a small map of Imladris in the upper right hand corner, where Elrond's house was marked with red ink, protruding from the small black blocks that represented the other houses of the village in way more detail than Elrond would have imagined possible. Yet with those two small pictures alone, Soread had managed to capture a calm serenity that washed over the viewer as he looked upon the map. A smile spread on Elrond's lips as he knew that this was how Soread had seen his house, as a place of calm and security.

Gently taking the map, he placed it by his side to look at the one underneath. It too showed the healer's house but instead of the first floor, it portrayed the second floor. While the small map of the city on the upper corner remained the same, the picture of the Hall of Fire was replaced by one of the healing ward. A tiny herb indicated Elrond's storage room for medications, the healing ward itself was symbolised by a knife crossed with a needle with some string. Even though the Lord of Imladris had never seen this symbol before – Imladris used a cross to indicate places of healing – it was still clear that in Greenwood this was what represented healing.

The map of the third floor had a picture of Elrond's study on it. The healer cringed slightly at seeing the disorganised mess Soread had portrayed in the picture, but as the cartographer had only ever seen his study once and that it had been in this state when the mapper had seen it, Elrond could hardly blame him.

There even was a map of the fourth floor, this time the picture showed the view one had if one looked out the high window onto the courtyard beneath.

Elrond found his breath had caught in his throat once more. Soread's work was breath-taking, he thought to himself, promising himself he would cherish these maps and keep them in his study so he would be able to look at them whenever he pleased. A sad smile spread on his lips because he knew Soread had no idea what a gift he had bestowed upon his hosts. To see the cartographer's appreciation for this house and the peace to be found here captured I these perfect maps was more thanks than Elrond was used to even from the mightiest kings who brought the riches of the world in exchange for advice. No, this heartfelt map was worth way more than that. Deep in his heart, Elrond hoped that one day he would see the cartographer once more.

The End

Please review!

A big THANKS to my awesome beta(s) SamGreg! You were great help with this story!

A/N Please read!: I took a lot longer to write this story than I had originally planned. And yet, I love the story so much. I hope, everyone who read it enjoyed it as well and I hope some of those who have not left a review during the time of posting will be kind enough to take the time to review now. I would love to hear what you think, what you liked or if maybe there were points you disliked. Also, I am thinking about writing a sequel at one point and I would like to hear your opinion about that as well.

There is a sequel called 'The Cartographer's Return' for those of you who are interested!