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Tending Elrond's Heart	By : kathmco Category: -Multi-Age > Het - Male/Female Views: 3677 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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Title: Tending Elrond's Heart

Author: Emmess

Rated: NC17

Genre: Fluffy romance

Tending Elrond's Heart

Chapter Three

Awakenings

Morning dawned bright and clear, with a promise of warmth as the sun began its lazy ascent over the peaks of the Misty Mountains. Sunrise found Elrond dozing in a light reverie in the House of Healing, his head resting on his folded arms on the small table in the main solarium. He had not been back to his own chambers since the young Elleth was brought to the House, preferring to be nearby in case her condition worsened.
As he dozed, his patient's eyes began to clear, blinking as the sun's rays touched them through the billowing curtains of the window. A soft moan passed her lips, as she regained her senses, and along with them the pain of her injury.
Instantly awake at the slight noise, Elrond stood and walked to the bed upon which she lay. He smiled down at her, wishing to put her at her ease, since she would likely have no memory of what had happened to her, or where she was at the moment.
"Peace, Pen neth," he said, his warm, rich voice soft and soothing. "I am Elrond. You have met with an accident and are in the House of Healing. Your wounds have been tended, and are healing satisfactorily." A frown flirted with his brow as he saw that his words brought a look of fear into her wide eyes.
"Mae Govennen, my Lord…" she whispered, her voice brittle from her long sleep. "What happened? I remember only walking, trying to hurry back from an errand for my aunt, and then…nothing until this moment."
"You were the victim of a faulty shot made by an Elfling on the practice field. It is healing well, though, and you will be fine."
"If you please, my Lord…does my aunt know of my injury?"
"Aye. She has been told. She was here to see you," Elrond replied, watching her carefully for her reaction. He was displeased to the see the look of fear intensify.
"I…thank you for your kindness, my Lord." Looking confused a moment, then blushing furiously, she asked quietly, "My Lord, are my clothes nearby? I must dress quickly and return to my aunt's house."
"Your gown was no longer fit to wear, Merenant," Elrond informed her, not elaborating on the fact that he thought it unfit to wear before the accident as well as after. "A new one will be provided for you."
"Oh…" she gasped, turning her head from him. "My aunt will be very displeased if she has to purchase a new one for me…she always says that I am too large a burden on her…I am certain I can patch the old one…"
"You aunt will not be the one providing it," Elrond stated, unable to keep the irritation in his voice from showing. "She no longer has jurisdiction over you."
"My Lord?" Merenant asked, clearly confused by Elrond's words.
"I was most displeased to hear that you have not been schooled, or instructed in any of the arts, or had any warrior training, Merenant. Everyone who lives within the Realm is expected to be able to defend it."
The young Elleth looked very frightened, near tears as Elrond spoke. He realized that she thought he was blaming her for her inadequacies. "None of which was your fault, young one. Your aunt is to blame."
"Oh, no, my Lord…she is not…she has always provided for me."

"Really? Tell me, Merenant, what were your duties in your aunt's house?"
"I cook, my Lord…make sure the house is kept tidy…the clothes laundered…tend the garden…and serve her guests," she answered, not picking up on the past tense he had used.
"In other words…everything."
"My Lord…I was forced upon my aunt when my parents sailed…she kindly took me in and raised me, providing for me out of the goodness of her heart…it was most appropriate that I earn my keep, else her time and finances be wasted. Besides, I have no talent for learning or artwork…no promise of warrior skills…I am best suited to servitude."
"Those sound like words oft repeated to you, Merenant," Elrond argued, frowning. "How often has your aunt told you that you are worthless?"
"She was being honest with me for my own good, my Lord…" came the quiet answer from the Elleth, her eyes downcast on the sheets she gripped tightly in her hands.
"She was being deceitful with you for her own purposes, Merenant! She sought to keep you in her house as a servant - and your assets in her purse - not free to pursue your own life. No Elf is incapable of learning…of growing as an individual, of learning new skills! That she would purposely keep you from learning is an intolerable cruelty that I will not allow to continue. I have officially made you my ward, Merenant. You will reside in my House, and begin your instruction as soon as I deem you physically able."
"Please, my Lord Elrond…I…I…" Merenant gasped, her wide green eyes overflowing with conflicting emotions. Never had she been offered such kindness, and she thought in her heart that neither was she worthy of it, nor would she be able to repay it.
"Surely you do not seek to displeasure me, do you young lady?" Elrond asked, his face stern, but his voice still warm.
"Of course not, my Lord…I just…I could never hope to…"
"This is my will, Merenant. Will you seek to disobey the will of the Lord of Imladris?"
"Never, my Lord Elrond…it will be as you say," the Elleth replied, lowering her eyes in compliance. Privately, many emotions were tearing through her…fear, worry, apprehension, and above all, gratitude to this handsome Elf Lord. She vowed to work hard to reciprocate his kindness.
"How do you feel, young one? I know you are in pain, although it will be less with each passing day," Elrond asked, changing the subject. "I will prepare a draught for you to lessen it."
"It is not very painful, my Lord…please do not trouble yourself any further on my account. If I might be given something to wear, I will see to my new duties here."
"You are not to attempt to rise from that bed until I have given you leave to do so. Is that clear, Merenant?" Elrond asked sternly, frowning down at the injured Elleth.
"Yes, my Lord," she answered in a small voice. "But really, it is not painful…I have felt much worse than this…" her voice trailed off, realizing that her tongue had wagged too far.
"When have you been injured? I have not treated you before," Elrond demanded. Looking closely at her as she paled, he realized that the situation she had been in with her aunt was much worse than he had originally thought. A look of great tenderness swept his features, and he picked up her hand, cradling it gently in his own.

"Merenant…you have suffered at the hands of your aunt, but your suffering is at an end. You are safe here. I will keep you safe. Do you understand?"
Tears streamed down the young Elleth's face, unchecked as she nodded slightly, unable to find her voice to speak.
Smiling once more, Elrond released her hand, and stood, going to his workstation to prepare the painkilling draught. His smile was for her benefit, for he was outraged at her treatment. Had he been alone, he most likely would have smashed everything within reach. Outwardly, he maintained a peaceful and calm visage; inwardly, he seethed with anger.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Erestor reported that Ethuilrost had been properly impressed by his visit with an entourage of armed guards. She had screamed, threatened, ranted, raved, smashed a vase or two, and pretended to faint at least three times.
"It was quite satisfactory," Erestor said with a smile as he recounted the visit to Elrond and Glorfindel. "Unfortunately, Elrond, what small inheritance Merenant was left by her parents has been squandered by her aunt."
"I am not interested in her wealth, or lack thereof, Erestor. I simply did not wish her aunt to have had control of it, should it have existed." Thinking a moment, a small smile curled the corners of Elrond's lips. "Later, you will pay another visit to the Lady Ethuilrost, Erestor - again, with your guards. This time, you will take possession of enough wealth from her house to reimburse the amount of Merenant's inheritance."
Nodding his head, smiling broadly, Erestor indicated that he understood. He knew Elrond didn't give a whit whether the young one was well off - Elrond would provide for her regardless, having committed himself as her guardian, but her aunt needed to be punished for the serious transgression she had committed on her niece. As always, Elrond had decided on the wisest course of action…he would wound her where it hurt the most - in her purse.
The Balrog Slayer thought Ethuilrost deserved a visit from himself in retaliation for the crimes committed against the young Elleth, and Elrond had to remind him that kinslaying was a crime itself.
"While I am most understanding of your feelings, Glorfindel, I've no wish to have to banish one of my oldest friends because he has throttled a mean-spirited witch of a Elleth," Elrond said, smirking at the warrior.
"The Valar themselves would forgive me…I think the Valar themselves would stand and applaud me."
"Then allow the Valar themselves to provide such an end," Elrond laughed. "Ethuilrost will have to learn to keep her own house as of now. She has forced the young one to do all of the work up until now, telling her it was her duty in return for the rags and crumbs she threw her." A fierce frown crossed Elrond's brow as he said the words, matched by the frowns on Erestor and Glorfindel's faces when they heard them. "Erestor, make sure that all of Imladris knows why Ethuilrost has lost her niece - and her possessions. I want it made very public, because I will not tolerate this happening to any other child."
Still frowning, Erestor nodded. Glorfindel nodded as well, and Elrond knew the story would be all over the city by the next day.
Merenant might have thought herself alone, but in fact, she had just gained the protection of the three most powerful Elves in Imladris.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later that evening, preparing for bed, Erestor smiled to himself. Turning to his bonded, he asked, "'Fin…did you notice something different about Elrond today?"
"Hmm? Erestor, you must know by now that I never notice whether someone is wearing a new robe, or has their hair braided differently."
Smirking, Erestor swatted his mate on his arm. "Nothing like that, you old fool. He seemed different today…more…alive."
"It is no wonder…he hasn't been that worked up over something in years. The young one's troubles have moved him to action and it shows in his demeanor."
"Aye, aye…it is that…but not that."
"You are speaking in riddles, Erestor. I detest riddles."
Erestor just smiled, and continued with his preparations.

Translations:
Pen neth…little one

Merenant…joyous gift

Ethuilrost…spring rain
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Tending Elrond's Heart