Malina laid her head against her husband's shoulder and he wrapped an arm about her as, across the valley they watched the rainbows at the base of the distant falls. Aldon's voice was as distant as the falls.

"I was sitting here when I made my decision to stay in Imladris."

His wife took his hand, where it lay upon his lap. "If you really want to stay, we will."

His long hair tickled her face as he shook his head. "I can feel the shadows lengthening. The last time . . . I lost all my brothers and my father. I do not think that I could bear to lose my friends."

"If they stay, you may lose them, still," Malina pointed out sadly.

"I know. But distance may soften the news . . . and the Undying Lands hold a healing of their own that may make it easier to bear. And yet . . ."

Malina looked up into the bright silver eyes. "And yet?" she prompted.

"Celebrian says that Elrond will not leave Middle-earth. When I questioned her she simply said that he has his reasons. She says there has been no argument but something has happened since yesterday that has hurt her deeply." He sighed. "I feel that I am abandoning Elrond . . . deserting him when he needs me most, especially when I was not here to help when they were both captured last year."

"We were travelling, my love. You must not feel guilty. How were you to know that they had been captured by orcs? And I did so want to see the place where you grew up." She wrapped her arms about his waist. "We came home as soon as we heard, but most of the physical healing had been done. We have to face it. Elrond and Celebrian are as whole as they will ever be this side of the Sundering Sea."

"And I wanted to show you the home of my fathers. I am only sad that you did not see it as it once was" Aldon sighed again. "But, then why will he not leave and find healing in the West, with Celebrian? And so we return to the problem. Do I travel with Celebrian across the sea, or do I stay to comfort Elrond?"

Malina considered for a moment. "Perhaps his need to stay is something to do with being the Lord of Imladris. I do not know. I have always felt that there was more to Elrond and this valley than meets the eye." She shuddered. "But it feels, of late, that we are sitting in a fortress and the world beyond our walls is growing ever wilder." Aldon drew her tighter as she continued. "Why do you see it in terms of abandonment, my love? Celebrian is the centre of Elrond's life and he would probably fade away in grief if she died. You know I do not exaggerate. Perhaps, by seeing her safely across the Sea, you will be comforting him too. I do not look upon that as abandonment. Rather as support."

Aldon chuckled. "Now I remember why I married you. You have a way of seeing right to the heart of a problem."

"What do you mean by, "Now I remember"!" His wife gave him a playful slap on the chest, before reaching up to kiss him gently on the lips. "I may see to the heart, but it is you who has the heart to deal with the problem."

Aldon kissed her soundly. "Then, you go and help Celebrian with her packing and I will go and speak to Elrond."

0o0

Aldon had long since been excused the need to knock at the door to Elrond's study and he entered silently now. As he knew he would, he found his friend sitting in one of two armchairs set by the fire. A cup of mint tea was cradled in his hands but it was untouched and had long since gone cold. It was only Aldon's act of lifting it from his hands that even reminded Elrond of its presence and he blinked, drawing his mind back from distant reverie.

Aldon set the cup on the table between them and took the other chair . . . her chair . . . Celebrian's. It felt uncomfortable . . . like sitting in a grave.

"Malina says that Celebrian is packing." When Elrond only looked back into the fire he continued. "What happened between you? I thought she was beginning to heal. Not the physical healing . . . that has been moving along at pace. But the other . . . "

Elrond still did not look at his friend. "It would seem that we both need to find healing. Please do not ask me for further explanation. I am not sure that I understand it myself as yet."

"Very well. I will not press. But are you going to let her go to the Havens?"

"I cannot stop her and I am not sure that I should, even if I could. It would not be fair to deny her the healing that I cannot give. Perhaps across the sea she will find wholeness."

"Then, if you both need healing, why do you not journey with her? Surely you will not leave her to make the journey alone . . ."

Elrond's voice took on an sharp edge and Aldon flinched. "Do you think I would let her travel without me if there were any other way? To even imagine her ever leaving the safety of our home again makes my heart quail. But I have . . . duties . . . that bind me to Middle earth. I cannot go with her, however much I would wish it."

Aldon waited a few minutes before speaking again, giving Elrond time to regain control of his raw emotions. "Although I said she was healed physically, we all know that there is still a weakness there. She should have a physician with her on the boat."

Elrond's voice was flat . . . it's blank tone hiding anguish that was, once more, firmly leashed. "There is not time to arrange one. Celebrian intends to take the next ship. She will not wait. Her message to the Havens will arrive only hours before she does. Perhaps they already have a physician aboard but it is not certain and ships have been known to sail without one. Cirdan may not be able to find a physician willing to travel at such short notice."

Elrond dropped his head in his hands and when he raised it again to look across at his friend his face was filled with despair, the battle to hide his emotions lost again. Aldon was one of the few people with whom he had the confidence to lower the mask of an aloof elven lord. His voice was barely more than a whisper.

"In her present state I fear that she will weaken on the voyage and never reach the far shore."

Aldon's silver eyes met Elrond's grey squarely. "Malina, Tavlin and I have been discussing that these past three hours. I am going to say something and I want you to hear me out before you give your reply."

Elrond looked at him in some confusion but nodded.

The younger healer settled back in his chair, more comfortable in it all of a sudden. Steepling his hands before his face in subconscious imitation of one of his teacher's classic poses he began to set out his case.

"Malina's parents travelled West shortly before our marriage. She has no family here now, apart from our son and me. As you know, most of my family were gathered to the Halls of Mandos, my only living relative being my mother and she sailed West many years ago. Tavlin sees the changes happening in Middle earth. He knows that our people are giving up our hold on these shores and more and more are heading West. He feels no attachment to this land."

He watched as the full import of his comments began to register on Elrond and forestalled any comment by raising his hand.

"You promised to hear me out. I once said that I wanted to travel Middle earth but here, in Imladris, I have seen and heard more of the places and peoples of Middle earth than I could hope to see in centuries of travel. And I have been given a very precious gift, thanks to you. I have been allowed to follow my heart and become the healer that I had never dared to hope that I would be.

I will be sorry to leave one of my closest friends behind, but my sorrow will be tempered by the knowledge that I will be caring for someone very precious to him. My family and I have decided that we will be taking ship with Celebrian."

The words hung between them for long moments as Elrond processed this information. "You would do this?" he asked, quietly.

"I would have thought you knew me well enough by now to understand that I would not joke about such a thing." Aldon was no longer the shy young wood elf he had been when they had first met. "In truth, Malina has been asking to leave for some time and she, too, loves Celebrian dearly. It would seem that our paths are converging."

Aldon watched as some of the pain in his friend's eyes faded and Elrond leaned back in his chair. "My mind has been running in circles since the morning. I wanted her to go and yet I feared the journey. You have shone a light in my darkness, as you always do."

The younger healer nodded and fished about in a pocket for a moment, finally producing a small glass bottle. He poured a little of the contents into the remains of the cold mint tea and handed the cup to Elrond. His friend raised a questioning brow and made no move to accept it.

Aldon lifted one of Elrond's hands and set the cup in it, pushing it gently to the elf lord's lips. "You have not been sleeping properly and the journey to Mithlond is several days."

Still, Elrond resisted. "Your ministrations would be better offered to Celebrian. A stroll beneath the stars will provide all the rest I need."

"Where have I heard that before? I will be administering a dose to Celebrian when I have you settled. She can set out tomorrow instead. I doubt Cirdan will raise much objection to waiting another day for the daughter of Galadriel and Celeborn." When Elrond still hesitated Aldon's eyes rolled heavenward. "Master physician Duinil . . . where are you now, when I need you?"

Despite the situation Elrond found himself smiling. "I fear he is long past hearing your question."

The younger elf's silver eyes settled back on those of the Lord of Imladris. "Then drink it in memory of him. You know that he would have recommended it."

"I have no doubt. Indeed, he would probably have sat upon me until I did so."

For a moment their eyes locked, and then Aldon felt the resistance drain from Elrond's hand and the cup finally made contact with his lips. He swallowed the liquid in three gulps, grimacing slightly. "That was an unfair advantage. You know I was very fond of that mortal . . . and next time put some honey in it."

Now it was Aldon's turn to smile. "Your instruction is duly noted, Master." He took back the empty cup and slid a hand beneath Elrond's arm. "You should make for your bed before that sleeping draught takes hold. You know how undignified you will feel if you collapse in the hallway."

Elrond's glare would have been more intimidating if it were not undone by a large yawn and he allowed himself to be helped from the chair. "Then you had better assist this old elf to his chamber for I believe you made that draught a little too strong." They crossed the room together, Elrond's arm tucked in Aldon's. "You always were a little heavy handed with the tinctures. No doubt your skills will improve in another few hundred years."

"But My Lord! I learned from the best healer in Middle earth. And I fully expect both of us to live long enough to enable you to test the voracity of that statement."

THE END

If you'd like to know a little more of the background to this chapter read "A Cup of Sorrows", by the same author BUT do please note the rating. It deals with dark themes.

Own Character name meanings

Malina - Golden One

Aldon - Tree

Duinil - (Only his parents know and they didn't tell me)

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