Title: Sage and Mist
Name: CeruleanHaradrim 
Email Address: ceruleanharadrim@yahoo.com 
Web address:  www.geocities.com/ceruleanharadrim  
Summary: A mistake made in youth helps Elrond learn to live again 
Rating: NC-17 eventually 
Pairing(s):  Elrond/Haldir eventually among others
Notes: Follows the movies more than the books, begins a bit before LOTR

	
	The moon cast her gentle light upon the earth.  Soft rays danced 
among the features of the silent city.  Inhabitants quietly passed the night 
hours in their chambers, most in reverie.  

	A single elf sat on a terrace, moonlight covering his still form as if 
attempting to offer comfort.  He stared hopelessly at his outstretched 
hands, willing them to perform a duty that his heart knew they could not.  
The splendor of his surroundings was illuminated by the freely offered 
light of the heavens but to him their beauty was lost forever.  The ornate 
chambers, decorated with the finest silks and filled with masterfully 
crafted furniture now felt as empty as if they were vacant.  Waves of pain 
emitted from him, but although he was grieving his eyes could not release 
a single tear.  The deep grey pools could do nothing but stare at his 
fingers, desperately seeking any answer that could sooth his soul.  Raven 
waves spilled over his shoulders and down his chest but he made no effort 
to move them.  He did not know how long he had been sitting there.  In all 
honesty he wasn't sure how he came to be there at all.  The days had 
passed so quickly, so seamlessly, that he'd forgotten to take notice of when 
one began and another had found it's end.

	"My Lord?"

	Somehow he registered a voice, a familiar voice, addressing him 
from the shadows.  He knew they were there, the owner of that voice, but 
he could not bring himself to respond.  He refused to look up, part of him 
silently offering a prayer to be released, to fade from this existence and the 
next, to simply cease to be.  He vaguely noted movement in the shadows, 
a sign that someone was moving closer.  There was another hidden there, 
he surmised, but the One, the owner of the voice, was the one that moved.

	Crouching down beside the huddled form the One ventured to 
speak again.

	"My Lord," he began, "you must rest.  You have been here, like 
this, since Anor's rays began to wane".

	The Figure made no attempt to move.

	"My Lord please."  the voice insisted.  "You must rest.  They will 
need you."

	"They have fought." the Figure began softly.  "They have buried 
our kin.  One a king."  He paused, rubbing the fingers in each hand against 
one another.  The One listened intently, casting a glance into the shadows.

	"They have carried a ring of power.  They have worked to build 
this great kingdom, and have created treaties to bring peace to this land."  

	The rubbing stopped.

	The One looked desperately into his face, searching to find the 
grey eyes hidden in the midnight veil.

	"They agreed to be bound."  the Figure continued, words now 
becoming a struggle to release.  "They brought forth three children...." his 
voice trailed away.

	The Figure looked up then, grey eyes meeting blue ones.  Mist 
searched the sea, desperate to find an answer.

	"They have healed." he choked out.  "They have healed for 
countless others..." he paused again, and tremors began to move through 
his robe clad frame.

	"Why could they not heal for me?"

	The question was almost inaudible, even to the elven ears straining 
to hear.

	Tears began to flow then, twin rivers that cascaded down from the 
grey eyes with as much force as the waterfalls that surrounded them.  
Dropping his hands to his lap he allowed his face to follow.  Tears turned 
into uncontrollable sobs.

	The One pulled the Figure up enough so that he could support the 
weeping face on his shoulder.  Wrapping strong arms around the 
inconsolable mass he now had against him he again cast a look into the 
shadows.  This time the Other appeared, tall and slender, covered in black 
from his long hair to the thick robes that swirled about his feet.  He 
quickly approached and knelt down beside his Lord.  Moving to wrap his 
arms around the Figure as well he cast the One a mournful look.

	The sobs became deeper, and the pain and anguish that the Figure 
felt left no one unaffected.  Tears began to fall from blue eyes followed by 
the deep brown ones of the Other.  A gentle rain began to fall, as if 
Elbereth herself shared in their pain.  

	They did not know how much time they passed sitting this way, 
but upon seeing Anor's rays begin to stretch upon the sky the One decided 
to seek the privacy of the inner chambers.  Wordlessly the One and the 
Other pulled the figure to his feet and helped him to his bed.  He allowed 
them to do as they wished, too lost to hinder or assist.  The One turned 
down the thick blankets and sheets that covered the bed.  The Other 
carefully removed the grey tear and rain soaked outer robe, leaving him 
covered only in a long light grey night shirt.  The One then gently lowered 
him to a sitting position and removed his shoes.  Walking around the 
massive bed the Other pulled the Figure to the middle of the soft covers.  
The One rearranged the bed linen, gently covering the motionless form.  
The One and the Other then joined him, each laying on a side and 
wrapping their arms around him.

	"Sleep my Lord Elrond."  they both whispered, and watched the 
Figure fall into reverie.