Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Elrond/Gil-galad
Summary: Galadriel uncovers Elrond and Gil-galad's relationship. (Elrond/Gil-galad understood.)
"Put him in his tent and make him comfortable! I will tend to him there." An Elf carried Elrond's body into a small pavilion marked with Gil-galad's device, and another Elf brought a fresh bucket of water and blankets. Galadriel came in next with her bag of supplies and instructed the Elf that brought the water to build a fire. She handed the other a knife and told him to cut his clothes away. Meanwhile she poured some of the water into a basin and some into two kettles, which she hung over the fire. She put crushed herbs in each container.
Gil-galad burst in just as she shoed the two Elves that had been assisting her out to stand guard outside the tent. "How bad is it?" he demanded. He grabbed a piece of cloth and dipped it in the basin to help Galadriel clean him.
"Two arrows to his ribs," she said detachedly.
"Poison?" he asked.
"I do not know yet. Dip a cup into the infusion in the red kettle and make a poultice for his forehead, she instructed. It will help him to avoid shock when we remove the arrows," she instructed. "The infusion in the black kettle is to help slow the bleeding and keep the wounds clean. I will make another to help clot the wounds if we determine that the arrows are not poisoned."
"And if he awakes?" Gil-galad asked.
"That, my Lord King, is why I allow you to stay. You may hold him down and distract him from the pain."
When all was ready, Gil-galad moved to a position at one side of Elrond, prepared to restrain or comfort him, and Galadriel took a position on the other side, where she could pull out the arrows. Soon one was smoothly out, and a poultice, dipped in the black kettle, was bandaged onto the wound. Elrond woke as the arrow was being pulled out, and Galadriel left him at the mercy of his King as she examined the arrow for poison.
"Don't speak ," Gil-galad commanded. "It will unsettle your wounds. You took two arrows to the ribs," he explained. "Galadriel just removed one, and is about to remove the other."
Elrond obediently remained silent and took a deep breath. That was when the pain hit him. Gil-galad saw his face contort as he clenched his teeth to keep from crying out. The king quickly made a gag out of a clean piece of soft wool for him to bite down on. "Shh, let go of your tears, meldir. There is no need for such restraint before Galadriel and I.
"The arrow is clean of poison," Galadriel announced. "I will check the other after it is removed to be certain. But the arrowheads are the type that ride deeper into the body of their own accord. We must remove the other quickly. It will already be more difficult than the last." She said as she knelt next to Elrond again. "Hold him." She gripped the arrow.
Gil-galad pinned both of Elrond's wrists above his head with one hand and laid the other arm firmly across his chest. Galadriel sat on his legs, which served the dual purpose of holding them in place and giving her leverage.
Elrond turned his head toward Gil-galad and the king captured his gaze and gently probed into his mind, discovering his pain and fears, and sending words of encouragement, strength, and love. Elrond faintly heard Galadriel chant in Quenya and felt the brush of her mind on his as well. He felt sweat running down his face in hot beads and heard Gil-galad's soft command to yield to a healing sleep, and then all dissolved into womb-like darkness.
He remembered little of the next day or so, dozing in and out of feverish sleep and dream. Gil-galad would often intrude--and what a welcome intruder he was--into his dreams, telling him that he was healing, and that all would be well. He faintly remembered the King or Lady Galadriel squeezing various liquids down his throat from a cloth, and massaging his throat to make him swallow.
He next lucid memory was awaking in the king's tent dressed warm robes and the king's cloak of blue and silver was spread about him. The king sat over him, watching, as he lay asleep on his back. When he noticed he was awake, he leaned down and kissed him softly, threading one hand through his raven tresses.
Nine days later
"Haldir!" Lady Galadriel called to her young squire from beside her tent. "Walk with me." They walked toward the path that led deep into the woods that surrounded the camp to the west and south. "Haldir, did you deliver your message to the King?"
"Yes, my Lady."
"And?"
"The King said he would read it over and get back to you before morning council. He said he needed to think your proposal over. He asked what Lord Elrond" (Elrond? Galadriel thought. What's the king's herald doing in his tent at this time of night?) "thought before he dismissed me, and Lord Elrond said that he liked the idea, but it needed working-out."
"Elrond was there? Were they discussing strategy then?"
"Yes, they were sitting by the hearth with maps and markers in front of them."
Somehow Galadriel doubted that that was all they were doing. And the normally shy Haldir didn't show any indication of surprise. "That is not the first time you have seen him there so late," she said, more to herself.
"No. It is not. But I am prohibited tell of the other time, unless you, my Lady, or Lord Celeborn specifically asks me."
"I am asking." She had suspected the King's attentions to his Herald for a long time, but never seriously. Haldir looked uncomfortable. "Have no fear, Haldir. If the King is angry he will be angry at me, not at you."
"It was the night Lord Celeborn returned from his expedition. He grabbed me as soon as he handed his horse off, and told me to take his report straight to the King. He gave me his seal as an emergency pass for the guards. The guards saw my haste and let me through quickly. I peaked inside the tent to attract the King's attention. He sat on his bed, facing the entrance. Before him Lord Elrond lay fast asleep, robed in blue and silver.
"On first seeing me, the King's eyes lit up in ire, but then they calmed and he beckoned me over. 'Lord Celeborn has returned,' I told him when he asked my business. I handed him the report. He skimmed it and thanked me, saying that he would speak on it in the morning. He looked into my eyes with that piercing gaze he has, and he must have seen my question for he said this:
"'Elrond's allegiance to me is rare. He has conferred to me his mind, body, and soul. I reward him well for it.' I was shocked by the implications, and by the outright admission, but hid my emotion. 'I must ask, Haldir, that you say nothing of our meeting, except that I have received your report, unless your Lord or Lady should ask you of it.' 'Of course, my Lord King.' He then sent me off."
"Thank you, Haldir." They had come to the end of the loop. "You may go." He left, and Galadriel turned back into the woods to think. She was not shocked, but she was surprised. While Haldir's evidence was only circumstantial, she could think of few other possibilities. It was true that Elrond had taken two arrows to the left ribs only a few days before, but Gil-galad was only a healer in necessity. If it had been Elrond watching over Ereinion's body, that would have made sense. And, Gil-galad would certainly not warn Haldir against repeating the details of the visit for no reason. Ereinion had never been the type to choose his words idly in such situations, either. The Herald had clearly surrendered more than his loyalty to his King and had submitted to more than just the King's law.
"Gil-galad!" Her age and power exempted her from the correct greeting.
"Yes, my Lady?"
"I have a certain concern for your Herald."
Gil-galad frowned. "Speak on."
"He is not getting enough sleep. You should see to it that he gets more sleep."
"And may I assume that you have expressed your concern to Lord Elrond as well?"
"As you know, I ordered him to get plenty of sleep when I tended his wound. It does not appear that he has complied so far, and I have little trust that he will comply in the future."
"If he does not follow the orders of the White Lady, I do not know if he will follow the orders of his King, but I will try."
"That is all I ask, my Lord. I take your leave, then." She curtsied, but turned back toward him at the last moment. "Gil-galad--be careful." Then she walked off.
Gil-galad, for his part, walked straight into Elrond's tent, without warning. "Elrond, come out. I must speak with you." He grabbed the Peredhel's arm and nearly yanked him out of the tent. "We shall go some place more private. Here, into the woods." They walked in silence for a few minutes. Elrond counted the seconds before Gil-galad erupted. The King was in one of those moods again.
"Elrond, Galadriel is onto us."
"She was certain to be sooner or later. What do you propose to do about it?" He knew Gil-galad hadn't thought about it yet, but he decided the High King need to release his anger, and in order for that to happen, it had to be provoked.
"Marry you off to her, Elrond! I don't know, what would you propose?"
"The White Lady is happily married to Celeborn, Sire. Do you think she's offended?"
Gil-galad sighed. "No, I don't. I think she wants to save our reputations by keeping you out of my tent. Perhaps I could come to yours instead."
"Your messengers would not think, I hope, to look in my tent, Sire. And if they did they would be mortified. What did she say to make you think she knows?"
"She came to me with the complaint that you haven't been sleeping enough, even though she had ordered you to as your healer. Is this true?"
"Yes, Sire."
"Good. I hereby order you to increase your sleep. Before she left she told me that I should be careful. That's when I realized her purpose for coming to me was to warn me that she is aware of our relationship. But it is getting dark. Go to bed. Give yourself a nightcap if you must; we can't afford to have people suspicious. And you do look tired. I will rouse you at first light."
Elrond realized that this would be a poor time to protest. He stepped into his tent, not before Gil-galad placed a chaste kiss on his forehead, as was the custom of the Elven Kings, and did indeed give himself a strong dose of nightcap.
The End
Notes: This was a one-shot, but if you like it maybe I'll write a sequel...
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