Hey everyone :) I'm back! :D Try and enjoy this chapter...I'm so sick so...I'm trying to rest but yeah...this feels like a fun thing to do :) :) ooh and Calandrion...totally made up :) Tolkien owns it, not me...ENJOY!

I sat by his bedside for most of the night, and he seemed to be sleeping fairly well, in spite of the pain-and I knew that most of that was probably due to whatever concoction of Elrond's he had been given by the healer.

I wasted no time in getting out of the healer all the information I could about the librarian, and loved everything I heard, though I begged her not to say anything of my interest to anyone. She smiled prettily, as if she knew and understood, but promised she would say nothing and went along about her duties.

By the time the sun was ready to rise I felt an overwhelming stiffness and exhaustion of my own and climbed back into my own bed to sleep, I wanted to sleep with him but I knew that his wounds wouldn't allow it, I also knew...again that damned inner knowing that I knew without knowing, that Erestor wouldn't want me to reveal it all like that. So, I slept in my own bed. But as I fell asleep, I knew that I wanted to wake as healthy and awake as possible.

I woke up, and all I was aware of was the burning through my whole body, my skin hurt, my lungs hurt, my hair hurt. I didn't know that it was possible for hair to hurt, but mine definitely did. My thoughts were slow to start, grainy and groggy but as I came to full awareness, fighting off whatever was in my system-I remembered, and narrowed my eyes to bring the picture fully into focus.

There he was. Laying opposite me, and I had to smile. His mouth was open, his eyes glazed over and far away, one arm was stretched out in my direction, the other held neatly to his side, as if to try and prevent some sort of pain. His breath was rasping lightly in and out in a soft snoring and his blonde hair was splayed, half tangled over the pillow.

I titled my head slightly and suddenly began to cough, it was less violent then it was the night before, I was sure of it, but that didn't make the pain any less. I used my good hand to wrap around the bed frame, desperate to hold my body still, but it didn't work and I whimpered in agony. The coughing subsided as I spat weakly into a bowl, and as I struggled for my breath, I felt a calloused hand on my back, rubbing gently. "Shh, get it all up beauty" he murmured and I arched into his hand with a soft groan-his hands were so cool as he rubbed up and down.

"It hurts less" I murmured, my voice raspy against my throat.

"I am very glad" he whispered and I turned ever so slightly looking up at him a smile breaking across my face.

"In so many ways" I continued and reached out brushing my good hand over his, he entwined his fingers with mine, and though his hands were bigger, stronger, wider, mine were longer, and thinner, so I could fold the tips of my dexterous fingers over the tops of his.

He laughed at this move and squeezed my fingers gently. I smiled softly and cleared my throat, settling into my pillows as he reached out with his other hand and offered me a cup of water, which I took gratefully. He pulled his hand gently away as a small procession of people came into the room, Lord Celeborn I recognized, as well as Counselor Silinde, but the others I didn't recognize on sight-only by their emblems and colours. "Lord Elrond" Glorfindel spoke, and bowed good naturedly.

"Glorfindel! You're up! And about!" the dark haired lord cried, excitedly.

"I am. I woke with a renewed spirit of vigour, who knows why?" he said with a warm laugh.

"I am so very glad, so happy...and your wounds?" the half elf peredhel said with friendly concern.

"Near fully healed my lord" The healer came in, bowing deeply before she bustled over to my side and smiled softly at me with compassion as I couldn't help but wince at the supplies she carried in her hands.

"Master Erestor. You as well, awake and aware" Lord Celeborn said, softly, by way of introduction.

"Yes. My Lord" I said, blushing in spite of my burns, I felt for the first time that there would be some sort of repercussion for my actions, after all, mine had not been the result of an attack of wild goblins or orcs or attercops...my injuries were the result of an insane notion and my own hand.

"I am very glad, your accident was caught well in time...those humans with their improperly packed wine, you really do take on too many duties at once Master Erestor, the servants could have disposed of that wine themselves easily enough, and spared us the accidental injury of one of our very finest scholars" he went on, and I looked at him, tears shining in my eyes. I knew that the many times he repeated variants of the word accident, and weaved a believable tale out of my intentions that made it into that very thing-an accident, I knew that he was making me well and fine and good in the eyes of the others in the room-that Lady Galadriel had told him about my dreams was probably not in doubt-but this meant the world to me..because suddenly I knew that I was forgiven and that everything was going to be alright.

"Your burns are mostly superficial Master Erestor, you will be pleased to know-mostly surface damage, and once you have finished removing the smoke and char from your lungs you will be alright" the dark haired Lord added on as he came forward himself to look at my wounds, I bowed my head and smiled softly "Thank you very much my lord" I said, softly, with reverence-my goodness why was he so attractive? Not as attractive as Glorfindel though, and I shifted my eyes over to take in the blonde with a mischievous glitter in my eyes as he looked over at me with narrowed eyes, and a teasing look on his face-he knew and I smiled softly.

He rolled his eyes behind the backs of the lords and I cleared my throat "how soon may I return to my library?" I asked, patiently.

Both lords laughed and Elrond shook his head "Not for a while at least" he began but Celeborn interrupted "or at all, if you will be agreeable"

I frowned and my heart thundered in my chest, terror flew through my whole body and ice replaced the blood in my veins-I had thought...I mean, Celeborn's words had been so sure, so calming, so confident...and now this. "I...will..."

He shook his head "I should explain, but I will do so when you are on slightly better ground" Celeborn began.

I shook my head frantically "No. Please. My Lord, I am afraid that you have sparked anxiety in me...please..tell me. What?" I asked, breaking off, and I saw the look in Glorfindel's eyes as he reached out to comfort me as best he could with his presence.

"Of course, I should have said nothing-but it is good news I promise. With much discussion and deliberation, I have proposed to Lord Elrond that...perhaps you would replace his counselor, who has voiced a desire to sail away..."

My mouth dropped open "Counselor Calandrion? Chief Counselor Calandrion?" I demanded, shock in my voice.

"Yes." Celeborn answered me, plainly, restraining his own smilea s best he could.

"You would select...me?" I asked.

"I had come here hoping simply for counsel." Elrond began "But after spending so much time with you, in friendship, I have decided I would like to leave, with a counselor" he finished.

A soft cry broke my lips and I nodded excitedly, whimpering at the pain but too over-joyed to let it stop me "Yes yes yes yes yes!" I cried in delight. "I am very agreeable, thank you, thank you My Lords, thank you" I managed and nodded excitedly.

They both laughed and Elrond smiled "You are welcome, I have no doubts, no reservations, but for now, you must recover your strength first." He said and I all but flopped onto my bed, desperate to recover as fast as possible.

"This is your future, Erestor. I always knew you would amount to great things" Celeborn said to me quietly, as Elrond walked over to look over the herbs and things the healer was sorting through.

"Thank you so very much."I whispered and he smiled and soothed back my singed hair as he stood and left when Elrond indicated he was ready, and I just laid there, tears glittering in my eyes and trailing down my cheeks.

Long moments passed and finally I felt his calloused fingers brushing my tears away. "This is perfect" he whispered quietly.

"I can't believe it" I whispered back.

He smiled at me and winked on blue eye "I'll show you everything, I promise. Nothing in the valley will be unknown to you" he promised.

I Grinned, reached out with my good hand and brushed fingers over his cheek, he kissed my fingertips, I felt now that my real future, that everything I'd dreamed of-both literally and figuratively, were coming true.