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Chapter 5
A Collective Sigh of Relief

“Ada?”

Elrond heaved and pulled on Elrohir’s legs, slowly lifting the youngest twin to the top of the gorge. Without stopping his work he glanced at his eldest. “I will explain laterÂ… keep pulling.”

Elladan put aside his amazement at his father’s timely arrival and lent his strength to pulling up the other elves. With the three of them working together, Elrohir was quickly raised over the lip of the gorge, and slid back leaving only his head and arms over the edge as he held on to Legolas. It was then fairly easy for them to lift the prince and Glorfindel from the dangerous rock wall.

As soon as both Legolas and Glorfindel lay safely on the top of the cliff, they all released a collective sigh of relief. Carefully, Elrond lay Glorfindel out on the ground a safe distance from the edge of the cliff and began to examine him. Once satisfied his Captain was not severely injured, the healer looked up at the rest of them, concern clearly in his grey eyes. “Is anyone else hurt?” Elrond inquired, scanning each one with experienced, knowing eyes.

Four heads shook in the negative, though Erestor spoke up for all of them. “I believe we are all bruised, but otherwise fine. Glorfindel was hit on the head by a large rock as we began to fall, but the rest of us, for the most part, are simply dirty and sore, I believe.”

The twins nodded easily, but Legolas hesitated a fraction of a secondÂ… long enough for Elrond to notice. “Where are you hurt, Legolas? And do not tell me you are not, for I can see the pain in your eyes,” Elrond chastised the prince, pinning him with such a look, Legolas knew better than to give anything other than a honest answer.

“I believe I bruised a rib pretty badly when I connected with the wallÂ… it might be cracked, but that is the extent of my injuries.” When Elrond lifted a brow, Legolas sighed in exasperation. “I swear, Lord Elrond! That is all!”

Elrond’s eyes traveled over the group one more time before his attention returned to the elf lying unconscious on the ground. “If I find you have injuries you are hiding – any of you – you will wish you had fallen to the bottom of the ravine, instead of withholding such information.”

The twins shared a meaningful look, but no one claimed further injury. Elrond quickly determined Glorfindel simply had a severe concussion and would recover completely from his ordeal, but he did not speak it aloud. Movement beside him caused him to turn his head. He looked into Erestor’s tormented eyes.

Erestor knelt beside the healer, his eyes scanning Glorfindel’s face for signs of life. “Will he recover?” the Chief Councilor asked quietly, lifting one of the Captain’s hands and holding it gently in his own.

Elrond smiled slightly. “Yes. He will recover and be his old, ornery self again soon. Before we know it you two will be arguing over petty issues once more.” Elrond turned to look at his sons and the prince. “If you three are able, head back down to the House and inform whoever Estel has spoken to that everything will be fine. Ask that a litter is brought up to carry Glorfindel back to the Healing Rooms, but see to it that others bring it upÂ… I want you three bathed and resting when I return.”

The three younger elves nodded obediently and headed to the path leading down the hillside.

“Legolas?” Elrond’s voice broke the stillness of the late afternoon. The prince turned, wincing as he rotated. “See one of the healers immediately. I will check on you later.”

“Yes, my lord,” Legolas answered humbly, before turning and grumbling, “It does not hurt THAT muchÂ…”

Elrond watched them leave and shook his head with a grin. He turned to meet Erestor’s confused expression. “When I heard the rocks fall and was told those three were up hereÂ… I assumed they would all be grievously injured. Yet, I find it is you and Glorfindel who were in danger. I never thought I would see the day you two decided to spend a day together enjoying the great outdoors.”

Erestor frownedÂ… and moaned. “Actually, we were spending time with Estel,” his lips quirked slightly. “We were playing hide-and-seek. I guess we lost.”

“I refuse to admit defeat,” a soft voice mumbled, bringing Erestor and Elrond’s eyes down to wincing Balrog-slayer. Glorfindel slowly lifted a hand to his head. “Though I do not recall crumbling cliffs being a part of the game.”

Erestor smiled at his friend. “I am just glad, for once, you were on my side.” His expression turned very serious. “I would have died, if not for you, and I am not even injured.”

Glorfindel shook his head slightly, but stopped and groaned when the movement caused pain to flare through his temples. “I do not believe you came out of this unscathed. Check him, my lord, he lies.” Elrond’s brow rose at this and he eyed his Chief Councilor suspiciously.

Erestor grimaced. “Could not keep quiet or stay unconscious long enough to get you back to the house, could you, old goat?”

Glorfindel smirked. “Nay, that would take all the fun out of watching Lord Elrond lecture you on hiding injuries.”

“You only admit to them because you could not hide them!” Erestor fumed.

“Ah, so you admit you are hiding injuries, my good Erestor?” Elrond’s other brow rose and he blinked, waiting for a response.

His Chief Councilor’s shoulder’s slumped in defeat as he frowned. “Very well, I believe my wrist is sprained from Glorfindel’s weight dropping and I am sure I also have a cracked rib or two.”

“All I got was a bump on the head,” Glorfindel chuckled.

“And I am surprised you did not break the cliff side with it, hard headed as you are!” Erestor barked back, but his hand did not leave that of his friend, in fact, it squeezed tighter as the two shared a meaningful look. They both smiled. Today had changed everything, and yet, nothing.

ooo

A group of elves bearing a litter topped the ridge and entered the garden, followed by a worried Estel. The small boy brushed past the others and threw himself at Erestor who was kneeling beside Lord Elrond and Glorfindel. The advisor grimaced as the boy’s arms squeezed him tightly around his injured ribs, but managed to hold in the accompanying grunt of pain.

“‘Res’or! You are okay!” he cried, tears streaming from his steel-colored eyes.

“What about me?” Glorfindel asked in amusement. Estel’s head whirled in the direction of the prone elf who had spoken.

“G’orfin’el! I thought you were dead!” the boy cried with wide eyes, releasing Erestor, who sighed with relief at the loss of the pressure against his sides. Estel dropped onto the Captain’s chest and hugged him tightly.

The elf-lord chuckled and squeezed the child back. “Nay, little one. It takes much more than a cliff to stop me.” His eyes twinkled as he looked up at Erestor and Elrond who bore looks of astonishment on their faces. As Elrond opened his mouth to comment, Glorfindel cut him off. “At least, when I have had such a great friend as you to help me.”

Elrond smiled. “Indeed. Now let us get you on the litter and back to the house where I can tend everyone’s injuries.”

Blue eyes glittered dangerously. “I am NOT being carried. I can walk just fine,” Glorfindel declared indignantly, glaring at Lord Elrond.

Estel, however, patted his hand. “It’s all right, G’orfin’el. You’re hurt. We know you are strong, but sometimes, you need help when you are hurt. Right, Ada?” the child asked, turning his bright, inquisitive eyes to his father.

“You are correct, Estel,” Elrond told him, amusement flickering across his face. “And I am sure the mighty Captain of Imladris is not too prideful to admit he requires aidÂ… and will wish to set an example for others,” Elrond finished, his voice tinged with warning.

With a sigh, the concussed elf-lord submitted to the humiliation of being placed on a litter and carried back down to the Last Homely House. On either side of him walked Erestor and Elrond, the latter carrying Estel who clutched Glorfindel’s hand tightly in his own.

ooo

Legolas stretched slightly, ceasing as a grimace distorted his fair face. He brought a hand to his broken rib and made himself breathe slowly as he relaxed back into his supine position on the bed. He hated being in bedÂ… strongly disliked being cooped up indoors, but Lord Elrond was not about to let any of them out for at least two days. ‘Except Elladan and Elrohir,’ Legolas thought disdainfully, quite annoyed that the twins had managed to actually avoid injury. At least, for once, it was not his fault he was injured. He wondered if he had ever journeyed to Imladris without receiving some form of hurt along the way or during his stay. Of course, his father would argue that he had the same propensity for being hurt at home, but that was in the line of duty, not almost dying from saving elves falling down a cliff. He snorted to himself. It was almost amusingÂ… almost.

The door to his room slowly swung open and a small, dark head peeped into the room. “Leg’las?”

The prince smiled warmly and gestured for the boy to come to him. Estel ran to the bed and climbed up without thought. Legolas hid his discomfort as the movement caused his rib to burn once more. “Have you come to keep me company, Estel?”

The boy nodded, glancing around the room. “I haven’t been in your room before, Leg’las. I like it. You can see the trees from your window,” Estel noted by standing on his tip-toes to look out the window that framed the bed.

Legolas frowned. He could not see the trees without rotating, and that was out of the question at this point in time. If Lord Elrond would let him upÂ… he could be out and under the trees, but alas, he was a prisoner in the Last Homely House, for one did not go against the wishes of the Lord of Imladris!

Estel dropped back down beside the elf and studied him, and again Legolas hid his grimace of pain when the boy brushed against him. “Are you sad, Leg’las? I bet you wish you could be outside, huh? I wish I could be outsideÂ… but Ada says I have to stay inside and help keep you and ‘Res’or and G’orfin’el from getting too orn’ry.” The boy tilted his head. “Maybe you could tell me a story about your home, and then you wouldn’t be orn’ry?”

It was all Legolas could do not to laugh aloud, but the question and comments had been made in such innocence that the prince acquiesced. “I will tell you a tale of my home, and then you can tell it to Erestor and Glorfindel. How about that?” Estel nodded, his eyes wide in anticipation. Legolas settled him against his uninjured side and began to share the story of how he killed his first great spider.

ooo

Lord Elrond peeked into the Prince of Mirkwood’s room some time later to find his youngest son sound asleep next to a dozing Legolas. The prince had his arm around the child and his head was tilted down so that their foreheads were nearly touching. Elrond smiled and moved silently to cover his son with a blanket before slipping back out of the room undetected. The door clicked shut softly behind him.

TBC