Posted: November 2003
Author: Iamme

*********

Celebrian saw her husband and father holding her children and could not wait as she ran out to them.

"Herven, Ada you brought them back!!"

She gathered her sons in her arms and held them crying relieved to have them back with her. She had feared she would never see them alive again. The elflings squirming hoping that none of their friends saw them being cuddled by their mother. Elrond and Celeborn both noticed that it looked like she had not slept since they had left. That would have to be remedied.

"Amme!! We are fine!! We even managed to escape once! We are not little elflings any longer!!" complained Elrohir.

Elrond smiled watching his family for a moment before turning to Celeborn.

"I need to go see Erestor. Will you help everyone get settled in?"

Celeborn nodded and began giving orders to everyone. Celeborn soon had horses on their way back to the stables and the guards posted in the proper places around his newly returned grandsons as well as trying to persuade his daughter to rest.

**

Elrond took the letter from his saddle bag and headed down to where Erestor was reading trying to ignore the bars he had become so accustomed to. He lay with his head propped on his hand, feet propped up on his pillow.

"Erestor?"

Erestor jumped up hearing Elrond’s voice, anxious to get the letter if it were truly there.

"Morcorban said you had a letter for me? " Elrond nodded and handed it over. Erestor opened it with haste reading it before thrusting the potion back into Elrond’s hands.

" I am going to be free, Master Elrond!!"

Elrond Smiled, happy to know that Erestor was going to be able to have a life again. Perhaps now he could start to truly heal.

"It seems for the first time in a long time that all will be well in Imladris. "

Erestor took a deep breath.

"It seems so long ago since it has been my friend." Erestor suddenly sobered.
"the twins?"
Elrond's smile grew. "They are well, they are with Celebrian. Now, I should go brew this for you so that we can release you and get you talking with this ambassador."

Erestor smiled at the thought. "Aye I would like that. It has been so long since I have been able to do my duty. I just want to get life back to some semblance of normal."

"Aye, Erestor. it will, at least I hope so. " Giving Erestor a reassuring smile before he turned.

Erestor was watching his lord leave as he suddenly remembered.

"Master Elrond! Morcorban.. he said..he said there is a spy amongst us and that I was not it."

Elrond sighed a frown gracing his tired features. He did not turn around, not wanting to show how tired he was.

"Then we will have to be extra careful till we figure out who it is."

With that Elrond left, once again leaving Erestor to sit in his cell for just a bit longer.

The Lord of Imladris walked hurriedly through the last homely house till he entered the healing halls. He stoped in the door and could not help but to stare at his captain. Glorfindel was sleeping his hand chained to the bed. The Lord of Imladris could not help but smirk at the sight. Simply shaking his head he headed through to the apothecary room and began to start on the complicated mixture.
**
Elladan and Elrohir were in their room with Lord Celeborn, sword at his side. It was the only way he could get Celebrian to go to sleep.
It was nap time and Elrohir had fallen asleep almost instantly. Elladan was at least pretending to sleep but Celeborn could tell from the restless shifting that he was not.

"Is something wrong Elladan?"
"No Attada. I am fine. I am just not tired."

Celeborn watched the elfling for a moment before walking over and sitting down on the bed next to him.

"Do you want to talk about something?"

The elfling shook his head.

" It is just hard to sleep after all the excitement we had. That is all."

Celeborn nodded. "Very well, but if you change your mind let me know."

Elladan sat up and hugged his grandfather before laying back again closing his eyes leaving the room in a comfortable silence.

**
It was several hours later that Elrond headed back down to the dungeons potion in hand.

Erestor took the murky brown liquid sniffing it.

"It smells like swamp water."

"Hold your nose. And swallow."

Erestor eyed the mud colored potion once more before gulping it down. He could not help but gag. He made himself swallow several times before getting it to stay down.

"Why can they not make any potions that taste like honey, or apples, or even grass for that matter. I could live with grass but this is orc dung! Every potion I have had of late tastes like something from my chamber pot."

Erestor suddenly dropped to the ground grabbing his stomach. The earthen bowl shattering on the stone floor as it fell from his counselors shaking hands. Elrond knelt down next to him stroking his hair as he lay there convulsing. It was several long moments before his advisor grew still Elrond was able to lift the slender frame easily.
Remembering a time when he would not have been able to do so. It all seemed like ages ago.

"Is he alright Master Elrond?"

Elrond looked to the door. "Yes Lindir, he just needs to rest. Would you help me get him to his room?"

"Of course m'lord."

Lindir moved to help Elrond carry Erestor to his room. Elrond looked at the sleeping elf on the bed not wanting to leave him alone but had things he needed to attend.

"Would you mind sitting with Erestor Lindir? I do not wish to leave him alone."

"Of course I do not mind."

Elrond nodded and clapped the minstrel on the shoulder.

"Hopefully now we can be at peace."

"Hopefully." Agreed Lindir getting comfortable in a chair beside the bed watching as Elrond left.

Finally the footsteps faded and all was silent except for Erestor’s steady breathing.

Lindir reached into his pocket and pulled out the vial he had been holding.

"I am sorry Erestor. We still need you for a little longer.."

He pulled out the vial and dumped the contents into the mouth of the unconscious elf causing him to moan as it burned its way down. This time he would not know. This time it would be done right. He slipped the vial back into his pocket and resumed his spot as the simple minstrel watching over his charge once more.

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*********

Erestor woke, his head pounding as someone lifted his head placing a glass of water to his lips. He drank until he felt better then lay back down.
"Feeling better, Erestor?"

Erestor nodded, rubbing his eyes before looking towards Lindir. "Aye, I am, my friend. I have not felt free in a long time."

Lindir smiled and nodded. "Then I am happy and we should celebrate. Would you like a song?"

Erestor nodded and Lindir began to sing.

The road is stretching to the north
Great glens scattered on every side
The sun glinting through the mountain pines
Arrows of gold wounding us in joy
My soul said, "Come across to see me
Put your burdens and hardships behind you
This temporary place will give us welcome
And I will be with you again"I am contented
Passing through the beautiful, eternal landscape
You were always in my thoughts
Through the low days and the heartbreak
Lift up my understanding, clothe me in my existence
With a light, a pleasing and a gentle heart
Many were the oceans that carried your people
As they journeyed far from you Although the world has turned upside down
And the distance of yeasis upon us
And although my hope is riding to the heights
Many clouds will approach the summit
But the skies are blue, the skies are warm
With a warmth so profound it can not be described
And the flower that is growing an Domhnall Ban's croft
Is as yellow as it ever was.
Erestor smiled, his nightmares momentarily forgotten. "That was beautiful my friend. I am glad you are here."

Lindir almost felt bad as he leaned down and placed a tender kiss upon Erestor's hair. " I as well, Erestor, I as well." Almost.

*****
Morcorban sat calmly waiting, dagger hidden up his sleeve. He listened to the ax pounding against the door, wood flying. He knew what was coming and he would face it, but not lying down, not this time.

The door finally gave way and Morcorban watched in slow motion as Carchthoron tossed the ax aside. The dark elf could not help but jump at the clanging of metal against stone as it tortured his sensitive ears. A hand reached in unlocking the door from within. Time seemed to slow to almost a stop as he watched Carchthoron walk forward and land a hard blow against his cheek.

"You are a traitor, Morcorban, and you are going to pay for that. I want you dead but Melkor will not let me kill you; not yet, anyway. Soon, someday soon, Morcorban. But for now it is time for a little reconditioning. After I have finished with you, you will wish for death."

The captain jerked him up with one hand and threw him to the floor, landing a hard kick into his ribs, smiling at the wheezing noise that followed the grunt of pain. Carchthoron could not help but smile at the small bit of blood that expelled when the smaller elf coughed violently.

Carchthoron pulled Morcorban to his knees before licking the pointed ear of the already wounded elf, “Did you enjoy fucking that elf from Imladris? Hmmmm... I bet you did...But, I think I can make you forget all about him." The captain let his teeth sink in to the tender flesh of Morcorban's ear, satisfied when he heard the whimper of pain, lapping contentedly at the small trickle of blood. "I am going to fuck you, Morcorban, and there is nothing you can do about it."
The older elf ran his hand down the fair cheek and Morcorban grabbed him and pulled forward
Gripping the knife tighter. He struck out with the dagger stabbing the larger elf, thrusting it down into the back of his falling tormentor. "Not this time Carchthoron, not this time. "
Morcorban muttered as made sure the dagger hit home.

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