7

The sudden hiss of snow striking the fire in my hearth snapped my concentration and the careful Tengwar capital I was writing jerked slightly to the side. The wrong side. Sighing I put down my quill. This was the third time I had messed up this piece of parchment and I was tired of sanding down my mistakes.

Damn.

The dinner bell rang clearly over my worried thoughts. I picked up my quill, carefully cleaned it and then capped the inkwell. Regretfully putting aside my botched job, I got up and went to the dining hall.

It was a night of no ceremony so platters of chicken and rabbit in sauce were placed in the center of tables, along with boiled potatoes, delightful fruit chutney and tureens of thick venison soup. And fresh bread, of course. Hungry, I single-mindedly filled my plate and set to work on the wonderful food. I realized as I finished my chicken in record time that I had neglected to eat lunch. Pausing to sip some mulled wine, I looked about the dining hall. My eyes naturally stopped at the high table, where only Glorfindel and Erestor, heads bent in earnest conversation, ate in solitary splendor. No elf lord. Frowning slightly, I took another sip of wine. I wondered what had kept him away from dinner.

I noticed the hall was pretty full. Perhaps he had gotten distracted by something at the last minute.

Finishing up, I took my dishes to the wide deep baskets provided for used cutlery and dishes. Stacking them there, I then went out into the corridor and decided to see if Elrond was in his study.

About to march down the hall, I was joined by Glorfindel. Glancing into his beautiful face, I wondered at his presence.

"Where do you wander, Marie?" He asked pleasantly, clasping his hands behind his back.

"Actually, my lord, I was in search of Lord Elrond. You may have noticed he did not appear for supper."

Glorfindel nodded and we walked on in silence for a few minutes. I was puzzled by his companionship as I usually had little to do with blond elf lord. And not because we did not rub along well together, but simply because our paths crossed infrequently.

Glorfindel did not speak again until we reached the doors of Elrond's study. About to knock, I looked up at the elf. "Is he in there, or will I be knocking to no purpose?"

A small smile crossed his face. He reached in front of me and pushed open the door. A dark study met my eyes, only the low embers of a banked fire casting light in an otherwise unoccupied room.

"Well?" I turned to Glorfindel enjoying the play of the low light in his golden hair. "Where is he? Are you hiding him someplace?"

"No, Marie." He took me by the elbow and we were once again out in the corridor, the study door closed. Indicating a stone bench across the corridor in a niche surrounded by the convolutions of a now dormant wisteria vine, I sat, adjusting a pump green pillow behind me. He joined me, sinking gracefully next to me.

Leaning against the stone balustrade behind us he grinned. "Lord Elrond has gone on a short journey. Just a few days duration."

"Oh yes? Hm." He hadn't mentioned it to me and though he was by no means required to tell me of his whereabouts he was usually forthcoming about such things. "Where's he off to then?"

"Hunting the very rare herb halenmyr. He uses it in his tinctures and salves to fight infection. He needs a great deal of it, as you may imagine."

Oh, I could imagine quite a bit. And I'll just bet a great deal of it had been used on me. Sighing, I shook my head, but a sudden thought made me ask, "Didn't we gather a bunch of that this last spring?"

"Elrond uses a great many different combinations of herbs that have cleansing properties to keep wounds from festering. Halenmyr is used mostly internally."

I nodded again chagrined. I had undoubtedly drunk a great many goblets of the vile brew when I had my bronchitis a few years back. And when it had returned, albeit briefly, last winter.

"Does he have to go far to find it?"

"Halenmyr is actually a phosphorescent fungus that grows in only a few caves up in the Misty Mountains. It is not easy to reach."

"He didn't go by himself, did he?"

Glorfindel shook his head. "No, he took Vermariel and Galfalas with him. Do not worry, Marie. He is in fine fettle. He does enjoy his solitary jaunts up in the mountains. Clears his thinking."

"I can understand that." I looked at the snow swirling past the edge of the balustrade. "Though it seems like mighty inclement weather to go hunting a fungus."

"Well you know Elrond; he thrives on adventure."

"Oh yes, he is quite the danger seeker." I looked at Glorfindel sideways. "That is why he is always telling me to take an extra cloak or to make sure my boots are properly waterproofed, or has my dagger been honed recently, or---"

"Now, Marie, you know he is just showing his concern for you."

"Of course. He is such a worry wart. But I wonder if he worries about himself enough?"

"'Worry wart'?" Is that some kind of blemish?"

Laughing, I stood up. "No my lord, it is only a blemish of the spirit."

Glorfindel gave me a bemused look and the two of us parted ways.

But once back in my room, I sat down and stared at my messed up Tengwar calligraphy. My cat Ivy came up to me and butted her head against my leg. I bent to pet her absently and she strolled off to find a warm spot on my bed. Looking at my writing, I realized had better start being a worry wart myself, or I was never going to have anything ready as a Yule gift for Lord Elrond.

I sighed deeply. And I only had another week.

You know that elves are really pretty quiet, but for this event, there were extenuating circumstances.

It had to be way past midnight, close to three or four, when I woke up and looked around my room, puzzled by my snapping awake. My room was dark, just crossed with silvery bars of light from a half moon. I sat still, listening.

Voices! Excited voices too. I couldn't make out exactly what was being said, but I got out of bed, threw my woolen cloak over my shoulders and went down the outside corridor following the growing sound of Sindarin to the front of the House where it appeared most of the voices were.

The closer I got, the more elves I passed going towards the entrance.

Finally reaching the porch, I gently made my way through the throng of bodies and saw what the hubbub was about.

Lord Elrond was back.

Except, well, he was unconscious. One of the elves who had gone with him held him wrapped in a cloak. Glorfindel reached up and took the elf lord and rushed through us, followed closely by Isingal and Erestor. I quickly joined the procession.

They reached the surgery and all of us crowded around the outside study door. I wanted to go into the surgery but felt I'd better wait with the others. I sat on the bench opposite the door where I had sat with Glorfindel that evening, my chin resting on my pulled up knees. How badly was he hurt? What could have happened? Another avalanche? Orcs?

I chewed on my nails and waited.

At least an hour had gone by and I noticed the sky was going to lavender, when Glorfindel came out. He spoke to all of us waiting.

"My lords and ladies; Lord Elrond suffered a terrible fall up in the Chingyr Pass. His stallion Rhean was killed. Elrond suffered a bad gash to his head and a broken ankle. He is in a deep healing sleep now. Perhaps this evening he can have visitors."

The elves listened silently and then slowly dispersed, conversing in low voices. I sat on the bench, my head lowered, my face buried in my covered knees. Oh dear Lord in heaven! Upset as I was about Elrond's injuries, I knew by listening to Glorfindel, that the ol' elf lord would mend. Poor elf! But Rhean dead! His favorite! I know he and the stallion had been companions for many years. My Carenloth was one of his many foals. I sat there heartsick at the news.

A few minutes had passed when I felt the slight pressure of a hand on my shoulder. I looked up and hastily wiped my tears.

Glorfindel bent down. "Oh, no need for tears, Marie. Lord Elrond will be fine with quiet and rest."

Rubbing my face with both hands, I shook my head. "I am worried about the elf lord, but my heart breaks because of Rhean! Oh, poor Elrond! And the poor stallion! What a terrible thing! And he was just hunting a …fungus."

Glorfindel smiled slightly and then helped me up. I said good night and slowly went back to my room. I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Glorfindel had gone back into the study.

What a night.

I could barely contain myself, but I did wait until after sunset to rush to Elrond's suite. I knocked on the door and when I heard the faint "Enter," I rushed in, but had enough presence of mind to close the door softly.

Crossing the sitting room, I peeked around the archway into the bedroom.

There sat the elf lord, several pillows behind him. A large lit candelabra shed lots of light across his lap currently covered with a large box, which Glorfindel was just shutting.

Glorfindel, with a smile at me, lifted the box and with a slight bow, left.

I wanted to fling myself at Lord Elrond, but I held back and came up to his side of the bed and looked at him closely. His face sported bruises, a particularly nasty one beneath his left eye. A swath of linen surrounded the top of his head. I noticed his left hand lay in his lap, also wrapped in linen. Glorfindel had not mentioned this injury so perhaps it was not too serious.

I quickly picked up his good hand and grasped it warmly. "Oh my lord! You are a mess!" Wanting to reach out and run my hand down his face, I paused and softly touched the bandage on his head. "You look like me after my run in with the orcs. Does it hurt much?'

"I cannot say it does not hurt at all, but Isingal's medicine has helped a great deal."

"And I'll bet you take it without making a face."

He looked at me, his eyes twinkling in the candlelight. "My facial control is quite good, after all these years."

Grinning, I sat gingerly on the side of the bed. I looked at the pale green curves of embroidered ferns against bronze silk that made up the quilt covering Elrond's legs. My grin faded as I remembered his poor stallion. "I am so sorry about Rhean, my lord."

"As am I, Marie. He was a fine and reliable stallion who sired many wonderful foals."

"Carenloth being one of them."

"Indeed." He sighed deeply and let his head lean back into the mound of pillows behind him. "I shall miss him."

I fell silent at that until all I could hear were the sounds of the fire from across the room. I wanted to give Lord Elrond a hug, but knowing that was too forward, I lamely patted his hand. Returning to an earlier thought made me look up in alarm. "It wasn't orcs, was it?'

"No, Marie. We were only a short distance from the caves where I usually found the halenmyr, when we startled a mountain cat chasing a wild ram which precipitated a small avalanche that poured down on us, and well, Rhean lost his footing. I leapt off and tried to pull him back, but was pulled down on top of him." His eyes went unfocused for a moment. "I heard his neck snap."

Okay, really, I couldn't help myself. Mindful of his injuries, I gently hugged the elf lord for a long moment. I mean, I had to do something! My poor elf lord!

He patted my back in return. I slowly sat up with a deep sigh. To change the subject, I asked, "What was in the box?"

"Some old things of Arwen's Glorfindel came across in the attic the other day." He folded his hands carefully in his lap. "What have you been working on these last few days?"

I realized it had been a few days since the two of us had actually talked at great length about anything. Even though the weather had kept most indoors, we all seemed pretty wrapped up in our own affairs. I suddenly realized why the elf lord would have wanted to go looking for his fungus. Probably a touch of "cabin fever." Anyway, I couldn't tell him about the calligraphy, so I improvised. "Just catching up with my journal."

Nodding, Lord Elrond sighed deeply and I realized with a start, I had been monopolizing too much of his time. Standing, I pointed to the candles. "Would you like me to blow those out? Do you need any medicine? Should I send for Isingal?'

"No, I shall be fine. Send Glorfindel in, please."

"All right."

I picked up his unbandaged hand and squeezing it gently one more time, I left the room.

Of course, the ever vigilant Glorfindel was sitting near the sitting room fire when I exited.

"My lord," I bowed and indicated the bedroom with a sweep of my hand.

Smiling, the tall blond elf strode past me.

I went slowly out of the suite.

Indulging in a sudden urge to go out to the stables and see Carenloth, I rushed through the House and went flying past the guards and was soon in the warm horsy confines of the stables.

As I walked quickly to Carenloth's stall, I passed Rhean's. A handful of hothouse flowers were stuck in the stall door latch. I stopped to touch them briefly and then rushed to Carenloth, whose head was peeking over her door. I threw my arms around her neck and suddenly began to cry.

After a few minutes, I raised my head and took a deep breath. I looked into the deep brown eyes of Carenloth. Straightening her forelock; I decided I must do something to cheer up the elf lord.

But what?