Side Effects of Turath's Aid

<><><><><><><>

Luna, Kerowyn, Elenwe and Iodhil pushed their way past a few Elves watching. Luna got through first, and she looked upon the "intruder". He was lying on the ground unconscious and was suffering of battle injuries. Luna doubted that Taron could have beaten him so, but that was not what troubled her. The person was abnormally large but it was undoubtable that the he was an Elf and on top of that Luna recognized his features as familiar. Kerowyn, Iodhil and Elenwe came up just behind her to see the Elf. After an instant Elenwe shouted, "Turath!" She imidiatly ran to the aid of the Elf. She lifted up his head and an expression of distress mared her face. She continued to shout at him in an unknown lanuage. Everyone watching realized a mistake had been made and when the Elf didn't answer Elenwe's calls, she shouted.

"He needs to go to the healing wings!"

"But, wh--" started Iodhil.

"NOW!" she shouted. And with that Legolas, Iodhil and the twins rushed him to Sanarium with Elenwe right next to them and Kerowyn and Luna on their heels. They set the Elf on the bed and called Sanarium. She rushed out and to him. Elenwe stood breathing hard in anxiety and stared at the bloody figure. Sanarium pulled off outter layers of his armor and traveling gear as she exaimined him. He had gashes and cuts all about him along with dark bruises.

"A great deal has happened to him..." said Sanarium as she cut away a piece of cloth completely soaked through with blood. Elenwe clenched her fist tightly and ran out the door. Everyone looked at each other.

"Why do I get the feeling that that wasn't good?" said Luna. All expect Sanarium ran after, but after running around a few corners they noticed they couldn't see Elenwe anywhere. Erestor emerged from a door in the hall as they stopped to look around.

"How often must I tell you all to not run in the halls?!" Erestor said sternly. Kerowyn apoligized and attempted to ask if he had seen Elenwe, but a loud crash coming from the front court yard muffled all other sounds and they ran to see what had happened. There they saw just as Elenwe punched Taron, she then threw a potted plant at him. He raised his arm in defense and the clay shaddered upon him as blood trickled from his nose.

"Elenwe!" They shouted, but she hadn't even noticed them.

"How dare you attack a stranger and call them a threat?! What, did the big, dark Drow scare you??!! You're not even capable of threatening him!!...I bet you found him injuried!!" Elenwe picked Taron up by the neck and threw him against the wall, choking him. "What kind of coward are you???!!!!" Elenwe tightend her grasp and Taron gaged for air. She might have snapped his neck right there, but suddenly two sets of hands pulled her away. Taron dropped to his feet and slid a couple of inches down the wall as he gasped. Elladan and Legolas pulled Elenwe's arms behind her as they took her a few yards away.

"Elenwe, Stop this!"

"What's going on here??!!!" shouted Elrond as he walked down the steps. Elenwe continued to ignore them, she shurked Elladan's and Legolas's grasp away from her and stood for a second, her fury directed in her stare at Taron. Her deep, malicous voice finally broke the heated silence,

"Ever... come near him again... and I swear to the Valar... I'll kill you." With that Elenwe turned and walked back to the healing wing. Taron stared for a moment in her direction in shock. After he had gotten his wits about him once more he walked up to Elrond, holding his bloody nose.

"Are you just going to let her do that?! I told you that Drow bitch it nothing but a danger!!" he said. Elrond gave him a wary look.

"I think... Taron, that I need to speak with you first." Elrond turned to the others, "Watch over Elenwe and our visitor... we are still unaware of these circumstances." They nodded and walked away. The twins went with their father to question Taron on his actions, while Legolas, Kerowyn, Luna and Iodhil returned to the healing wings. They entered the chamber to see Elenwe standing at the Elf's bedside. She stared at the ground, the pain of regret all over her face. Sanarium had just finished treating him and was cleaning up.

"From what I can tell... He was attacked by orcs, not an elf, and then brought here." she said. "I will watch him for now..."

"Sanarium... How long until he wakes up?" asked Elenwe, not averting her eyes.

"I'm not sure, but he'll be out until at least tomarrow afternoon." Elenwe thanked her and walked to the doorway. There Legolas stopped her.

"Where are you going?"

"For a ride." She said and walked out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day Iodhil yawned as he bumped into Legolas. "Oh, sorry, Gwador. How are you?" Legolas shook himself from wonder.

"I'm fine, but I havn't found Elenwe. Did she ever return?" Iodhil nodded and pointed to the front steps.

"Actually, just after you went to sleep. I saw Elenwe come up the steps with a large bundle in her arms. 'So, you're back.' I said, but she only nodded. I asked her what was in the cloth she carried, but all she said was that she was going to the healing wings. She's been there ever since." Legolas wondered why he hadn't looked in the healing wings yet.

"Hannon lle, Gwador." and he walked off to the healing wing. He entered the chamber quietly to see Elenwe sitting by the strange Elf's bed. She was mummbling to herself.

"You came looking for me, didn't you? ...I don't understand... You hate the Ar... Then why--" The floor creeked as Legolas walked up behind her. She turned to him, "Hello, Melleth." Legolas put his hand on her shoulder.

"Good Morning..." To their right, a large dingy cloak was bundled around a mass of stiff objects. Part of it had sliped down, revieling the handles to some type of unknown weapon. Legolas glanced at it. Elenwe stood up and looked out the window.

"Linwe said that he wasn't posioned, thankfully." Luna, Kerowyn, and the twins came in with soft smiles upon their faces, hoping the night would have calmed down some of the commotion.

"Morning, Elenwe!" said Kerowyn energetically.

"Morning, Mellon." Elenwe responded with a weary attempt at a smile.

"So... How are you doing?" Luna started. They had all come for an explaination, but she felt it was better to not imidiatly start interogating her. Just as Elenwe was about to answer a small moan came from the Elf and he winched. Sanarium came in and looked at him, but then stepped back. Elenwe rushed to his side. The Elf opened his eyes slowly.

"Turath!" Elenwe shouted quietly.

"Dor... burzum-ishi na im?*" he muttered in the criptic speech unknown to them. Elenwe imidiatly answered him and leaned over.

"Galad-ishi. Din, Na nev. Imladris, Turath. Im thrakai ye ak i echuirquare.**" The Elf sat up quickly and Elenwe sat at the foot of the bed on her knees. He continued to speak to her in what the others found a deep, harsh tone. Elenwe's expression slipped and they knew he was being rude if not speaking angerly. Elenwe looked down as he continued. Suddenly he realized how quiet she was and looked upon her. She lifted her head slightly, "You could at least be a little gratful!" she said in common speech. There were wells of tears in her eyes that she refused to let spill over.

(*Where...in the darkness am I? **In light. Quiet, I am near. Rivendell, Turath. I brought you to the healing wing.)

"Are you crying?" said the Elf. Elenwe kept her eyes closed and rubbed them with furosity trying to be rid of the water behind them.

"I'm not crying!" He looked away and sighed.

"Oy, I don't know how to deal with you when you cry." Elenwe gave her eyes one last rub to be sure they were gone.

"I'm not crying!!!" The Elf sighed once again and put his hand on top of Elenwe's head. Elenwe seemed surprised and looked up at him. The Elf continued to look away and Elenwe thanked the Valar that she hadn't let the tears spill over. The others looked on just a tad bit confused as Elenwe smiled slightly.

"But I don't understand! You--!" the Elf held up his hand.

"We shall speak of all that later. For now..." He stood up and gazed at all who filled the room. They all flinched in surprise, for the first time all of them noticed his deep crimson eyes. But 'deep' was too light weight of a word to describe them, as dark and as red as blood. They were astonishing and penetrating as if he could delve into one's mind and soul. With a single stare he could know all that lerked there-- esspeically it's darkest secrets. He turned and looked upon Sanarium, who shuddered under his gaze. "My thanks, Lady Healer..." He then turned to Elenwe, "I should like a word with the Lord of Rivendell. Tell me, where is Elrond?" Elenwe began to rabble in the same confusing language they had spoken before. At this time Luna decided to slip out of the room to find Elrond. Whatever it was going on, he would need to know.

From what the others could tell, the two Drow were arguing mildly. Finally Elenwe spouted quickly in common speech,

"You're in no condition, I say! I know... How about some tea? I'll make some with healing properties for your injuries." The Elf attempted to object, but Elenwe had already ran off towards the kitchen. At this time Elrond walked in with Luna behind him, wery from his talk with Taron, which consisted of shouting from both more than talking.

"Mae Govannen.... I am Elrond, Lord of Rivendell." The Drow nodded his head.

"I am Turath Belegvornum. I wish to speek with you... privately, if you don't mind." Elrond looked to the ground then held out his arm to the door.

"We may speek in my study. Please follow me." The two walked out and to Elrond's study with the twins, Luna, Kerowyn, Legolas and now Iodhil behind them. The younger Elves stood outside the door as Elrond and Turath conveined inside. Meanwhile Elenwe entered the healing chamber with a tray of tea to see Sanarium, alone, folding clothes.

"Sanarium... Where did they go?"

"Oh, to Elrond's study..." before Sanarium could say 'Why?' Elenwe had already left the tray and ran to the study doors. She ran up to the others standing in front of the doors.

"Elrond and the Elf named Turath are already inside and it's locked." said Luna. A look of horror came over Elenwe then a look of illness. She began to curse in the tongue of her people. She would now have to confront a secret she'd been keeping locked within her and she knew it wasn't going to be pretty. They all would wait for the two Elves to return. Iodhil and Elladan sat on the railing while Kerowyn stood against a pillar. Luna stood beside her with Elrohir and Legolas standing a foot away from her. They all had all lost interest in watching Elenwe pase back and forth in front of them a while ago. Suddenly, giving them all a jolt of surprise, the doors flew open. Elenwe spun around. In the door way stood the Elf named Turath and he was not a pleasant sight. All could somehow sense a great feeling of hidden rage within him. He stared at Elenwe with every bit of that rage showing through and Elenwe flinched in surprise. Turath took a step forward and then with a sudden, swift, sweep of his strength, he back-handed her arcoss the cheek. The sound seemed to echo through the halls and at first Elenwe held the injury of her pride and honor. Everyone stood motionless in astonishment, first at his agressive behavior, then Elenwe's reluctance to retaliate.

Turath began to speak in Drowish deeply, another sign of his state of mind. Elrond appeared in the doorway behind them, he to unwavering, but with an expression of regret. Elenwe finally spook up,

"Demo*--!!!" but Turath interupted her with another swift blow with the back of his hand to her other cheek. This seemed to snap the others back into reality. Luna and Iodhil, the closest, stepped forward. (*But--!!!)

"Hey!" shouted Luna.

"What do you think you're doing?!" demanded Iodhil. Turath turned to Iodhil,

"Are you, Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood?" he spat. Surprised and confused Iodhil shook his head and pointed to his brother beside him. Turath looked at Legolas with malous, then he stormed off down the hall. They exchanged looks as Elenwe continued to stare at the floor.

"Elenwe..." Began Elrond.

"So, he asked and you just told him...?" she said starring at the floor.

"Elenwe, I--"

"You just told him everything?!" she shouted and ran the other direction. Legolas attempted to follow her, but Elrond stopped him.

"Elrond, What's going on here?!" he demanded.

"Yes... You owe us an explaination." said Kerowyn. Elrond sighed,

"It is not my place to say... It appears I've already said far to much. But Elenwe will not tell you... That Elf, Turath... is Elenwe's older brother."

"She never mentioned any family!" said Luna.

"I know... but that is not the biggest bit of news for you.... Elenwe's full name is Elenwe Galvilya Aravornum... Her brother in King of the Drow and she... is Princess." Everyone sat speechless and dumbfounded.

"She's... She's WHAT?!" they all said in unison and in disbelief.

"But... But, why didn't she tell us?!" said Kerowyn. Elrond shook his head and Legolas looked at the ground.

"Perhaps she didn't trust us enough....."