Healing Hope

Chapter Seventy-Three

Questions and Answers

“It is the nature, and the advantage, of strong people that they can bring out the crucial questions and form a clear opinion about them. The weak always have to decide between alternatives that are not their own.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Deep shadows filled the already dark room. Black marble reflected the burning torches mounted along the walls of the rounded room. In the center of the room a pedestal stood chest high. Placed upon it was the orb now being searched by the white robed being.

“Master?” The word seemed to echo in the vast domed room, interrupting the wizard’s search.

Saruman felt a flash of irritation as his concentration was broken, but he quickly schooled his features before turning to face the one who had spoken.

“I thought, perhaps, you would enjoy a cup of tea.”

Anger again flushed the Istar’s face as he searched the guileless eyes. Finding no deceit, he acquiesced to the request. “Thank you, Radagast. Perhaps it is time for me to rest for a brief time.”

Radagast smiled and nodded. Honored to have been of service to the head of his order, the gentle Brown Wizard wished only to please. “Do you still seek the child?” He cocked his head inquisitively to the side. “I regret that I could not find him for you.”

Saruman smiled slightly as the walked beside Radagast down the darkened hallway to a study cluttered with paper, books and candles. His lip curled as he noted that some of his papers had been moved aside from the small, round table to make room for a tea pot and two cups. Yet again, he forced his features to the banal calmness that soothed lesser beings. “I hold naught against you, my friend, for being unable to find one child amongst so many. It was only a hope that I might find the child and offer my protection.”

“You thought him in the hidden valley, did you not?” Radagast settled himself as comfortably as possible in the stiff, hard chair unaware that his innocent comment raised an alert in Saruman’s mind.

“You heard Gandalf say that there was no child there,” snapped Saruman. “Why do you persist?”

Radagast paused in the pouring of the tea. A simple and gentle being he might be, but he could easily read the tenseness that had descended upon his leader’s countenance. Well, perhaps it was best to get his request out in the open, even though the circumstance was not as genial as he might have hoped. “Only that I would…er…that is, I really desire to…”

“Return to your birds and forests,” finished Saruman, as Radagast all but sagged in relief.

“Yes!” A smile lit the face that was graced with features imbued with kindness. “As much as I am honored to be of service to you, I do so miss my feathered friends in the wild.” Saruman raised an eyebrow in contemplation. He had been, of course, ready to be rid of the Brown Wizard the minute he decided to switch his search from the child to the ring. With Isildur’s prize in his possession, the child would be irrelevant, and he, Saruman, might deal with the Dark Lord from a position of power. He smiled benignly at the brown robed Wizard. “Your companionship has been much treasured these past days, my friend,” he lied through his teeth, “but it would be selfish of me to delay you longer.”

O-o-O-o-O

Thedin harrumphed and stepped around Erestor to fix Elrohir with a look that had quelled the hearts of many an apprentice. “I am the healer here, and you, young Lord, will abide by my decision.”

Erestor sighed, and Gelleth’s eyes went wide with shock. She had heard many stories about the “Duo of Death” and feared what might happen next.

Elrohir’s eyes narrowed and Erestor saw what Glorfindel termed “that stubborn look” descend upon the Peredhil. Slowly and with great deliberation the twin swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat up. He was wise enough to hesitate in that position before standing else he might just pitch into the healer’s arms, thus assuring himself and Estel another few days in Mirkwood.

Gelleth gasped softly and took an involuntary step back, actually bumping into a vastly amused Erestor. “Peace child, his bark is worse than his bite.”

The elleth blushed to have been caught in her fear of the twin. “Master Thedin’s is not, I assure you,” she whispered.

Thedin and Elrohir were now standing toe to toe.

“I have been tasked by my King to ascertain your fitness, or not, for travel,” asserted Thedin.

“And I am telling you that I am quite well,” insisted Elrohir.

“Your credentials in healing equal my own, do they?” questioned Thedin, “or perhaps they are only equal in size to your own ego.”

Elrohir growled, causing Gelleth to gasp and step protectively in front of the healer. The twin was so surprised to see the diminutive elleth glaring defiantly up at him that he was momentarily struck speechless. Surely she did not actually think he would raise his hand against a healer? The twin could not help but notice the beauty of the elleth, and as his eyes lingered, she blushed.

“Peace,” said Erestor exasperatedly. “Perhaps Elrohir is correct. He does seem quite recovered, and every day that we delay here could see us face true danger in the mountain passes.”

“Exactly,” agreed Elrohir, pulling his eyes from the beautiful apprentice and spreading his hands in a signal of peace to the healer. “It is only by the fortuitous lingering of autumn that the passes are still open. We dare not remain longer.” The twin tried what he hoped was his most appealing look. “Good healer, I would never endanger my little brother by traveling into the wilds in less than full health.”

Thedin gave another harrumph, just for good measure, and gently moved Gelleth from in front of him. “Then I will tell my king that you have my leave to begin your journey.”

“Perhaps I might walk with you,” suggested Erestor. “I wish to hear all that you might tell me of Estel’s condition while he was here. I particularly want to learn more of the parasite that attached itself to his arm.” Erestor smiled engagingly. “Estel could only remember that it was called a 'bore something.'”

“A bore mite,” Thedin replied automatically, and then frowned. “It was acquired in the forest, not in the caverns.”

“Of course, of course,” soothed Erestor. “King Thranduil’s palace caverns are meticulously clean.” And lest the healer think he was making any insinuation of neglect, the seneschal hastened to add, “Lord Elrond will be most grateful for the care which you have given his son, as are we all.”

Thedin nodded. “Quite right…the little fellow does have a winning way about him. Some of my patients have grown quite fond of his story telling.” He looked at Erestor, “Well, come along, Lord Erestor, and I will tell you all I know of Estel’s condition.”

“Thank you,” responded Erestor sincerely.

“And you,” Thedin said to Gelleth but looking pointedly at Elrohir, “had best get back to your future bond mate. Falathar will be missing you.”

Gelleth blushed again as Elrohir’s eyebrow shot up. “Falathar…you are Falathar’s intended?”

“Yes, my lord,” the apprentice replied softly, embarrassed to find herself suddenly the center of attention. “As Master Thedin says, I am needed in the healing rooms.” She quickly exited the room, much to the amusement of the two older elves and the bemusement of the younger.

“Well, well,” murmured Elrohir. “I did not think Falathar had a romantic bone in his body.” He grinned suddenly. “Wait until El hears about this.” He and his brother would have great fun, at Falathar’s expense, the next time the oh-so-serious warrior journeyed to Imladris.

O-o-O-o-O

Elrond, Lord of Imladris, sat on his terrace overlooking the Bruinen. The Elf Lord was deep in thought, his fingers steepled before him as he considered every possible scenario.

Sitting across the table from him was Glorfindel, currently searching his own mind for any clue that might have been missed.

The two elves sat thus, deep in contemplation, as their tea cooled to tepid on the table before them, and the dainty cakes, which were supposed to be tempting, sat untouched.

Such was the level of concentration between Elrond and Glorfindel that neither even noticed that they were being observed.

“Might I join you?”

“Elladan!” exclaimed Elrond. “Ion nín, what are you doing out of bed, and who helped you down the stairs?”

Pale and still a bit unsteady, Elladan made his way across the terrace from his father’s study as Glorfindel quickly moved to pull out a seat for him. The warrior was also prepared to lend a hand should the twin’s unsteady gait worsen.

Once settled, Elladan turned his face to the rays of Anor for a few seconds and then favored his father with a brilliant, if weak, smile. “I needed to be out of there, Adar…to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the caress of the breeze around me.”

Elrond’s eyebrow crept up, “Poetically spoken, my son, but there is a terrace outside the healing rooms.”

Glorfindel chuckled. “Perhaps Elladan desires our stimulating company.”

“What I desire is information,” replied Elladan. “I have been abed too long. I wish to know the true state of our defenses.”

Glorfindel nodded approvingly, “Well said, son of Elrond.” His pride in the twin was evident.

Elrond agreed. “Very well, ion nín. That is exactly what we came here to discuss.”

Elladan snorted, “I did not see much discussion taking place.”

“Ah,” admonished Glorfindel with an amused look, “we were simply clearing our minds.”

Elrond thought that rather stretched the truth a bit, but did not belabor the point. “What do you wish to know, Elladan?”

“The orcs that attacked us acted with an intelligence I have not seen in orcs before,” the twin mused. “And how did they come into the valley unseen by our scouts?”

Elrond hesitated only a moment. “The orcs appear to have had magical aid.”

Elladan looked from his father to Glorfindel. “From where? Can the Dark Lord have reached that level of power?”

“That is the question we seek to answer,” replied Glorfindel. “One thing that we know for sure is that someone has been walking in Estel’s dreams…seeking Aragorn.”

Elladan’s breath caught in his throat.

“Thankfully, he does not remember that name,” said Elrond quietly. The Elf Lord turned to Glorfindel. “Have there been any more enemy incursions into the valley?”

“None since Mithrandir let it be known that no child resided here,” replied the warrior.

Elladan frowned. “Let it ‘be known’ to whom?”

Elrond and Glorfindel shared a glance that did not go unnoticed by the twin. “Adar?”

“It is my suspicion – a suspicion not shared by Mithrandir, I must make clear – that Saruman could be the source of the magic we have encountered."

Elladan was thunderstruck as he looked from his father to Glorfindel. “An Istari working with Sauron… How is that possible?”

“Never underestimate the seduction of power,” warned Glorfindel.

“Have you stood down the extra patrols?” Elrond asked Glorfindel.

“No,” replied the warrior.

“Good,” nodded Elrond.

“In fact,” continued the Chief of Imladris Defenses, “I have scouts posted well outside the valley watching for the return of Elrohir’s party. As soon as they are spotted, we will have escorts ready to meet them. They will be well protected.”

Elladan’s eyes looked towards the mountains, as though he could see past them to the peaks his brothers would have to traverse. “The snows…do we know that the passes are still open?”

“Yes, the warm days have delayed the snows,” replied Elrond.

Elladan shook his head. “So all this time they were after Estel.” The twin shuddered, “If they had succeeded…”

“But they did not,” interjected Elrond. “Estel is safe and we will continue to keep him that way.”

TBC