Work Text:
You sighed as you scribbled your signature into yet another paper after reading it though. The pile on your right, where you placed the ones that you had already gone through, was slowly getting taller. But somehow, the pile on your left, that held the unfinished ones, didn't seem to get smaller at all. The flow of papers seemed like it would never end, and you had no idea how Elrond dealt with this every single day without going crazy. You lifted the paper to the right pile checking one last time that everything was in order, and you pulled down a new one, having to support the pile with your hand so you wouldn't make it collapse.
You lifted your head from the heap of papers when you heard the door open, seeing Elrond in the doorway, leaning into it for support.
"Melda (my dear), what are you doing out of bed?" You hurried around his desk to stand by his side. His face was pale as he swayed slightly, and you helped him into one of the armchairs that rested in the corner.
"I wanted to see you. I heard some of the council members talking that they think that you are not capable of doing this job. I have full trust in your abilities but I just wanted to come and make sure you weren't doubting yourself." You rolled your eyes, moving some of his hair out of his face. A slight sheen of sweat made his hair stick to his skin, and you suspected that he was in more pain than he let on, but being stubborn, refused to show it or accept any more herbs to help with it.
"I am fine, darling, it takes more than a few council members to shake me." You shook your head in disbelief as you spoke, propping your hands on your waist.
"You should not be going anywhere. Your wound could open again!" You gently scolded him, and he hummed in agreement, shifting in the chair slightly.
The change in position caused him to grimace when his wounds throbbed. He tried to hide it from you but was not successful, and you hurried to his side, eyes wide with worry.
"Wouldn't it be more comfortable to rest in our bedroom?" You suggested, but he shook his head with vigor.
"I just had to get out, I cannot just sit idly by. I was going mad, just laying there." He made a move to stand, but you pushed him to sit back down with a determined hand. You brought a few extra pillows for him so he could rest comfortably, now that he seemed insistent on staying.
"You should not be moving from that bed. You do remember that the healers said that the more you rest, the faster you'll heal? Aüle, Elrond, you are a healer yourself, you must know that you need to rest to get better!" Your voice was stern this time and Elrond knew better than to argue with you. He relaxed back into his chair, and you, pleased with the outcome, gave him a gentle kiss on his lips, which he leaned forward to deepen when you tried to pull away. You relented and kissed him deeper, cupping his face gently as you pulled away, your thumb tracing patterns there.
You separated, and you sighed as you turned to the almost wobbling pile of papers you still had left.
"I can take care of your duties Elrond. You'll just have to learn to be without the weight of your responsibilities on your shoulders." You walked back to the desk, giving his forehead a gentle kiss, and Elrond sighed. He ran a hand over his face, slumping into the chair to watch you work. You returned to your papers, scribbling down words. The silence lasted only for a moment before Elrond spoke.
"I... I just," he trailed off, running a hand through his hair, "I just feel so useless." You resisted the urge to roll your eyes. You understood that it was peculiar for him to just lay still and do nothing, but he would never be back to his full strength if he didn't.
"You are not useless, my love. You just need to rest until you're healed enough to return to your duties." He huffed at your words, and you ended up rolling your eyes anyway, no matter how hard you fought it. He was acting like a child, and the mountain of papers still remaining on the desk didn't leave you time for that.
"Why don't you try writing poetry, then? You always complain that you don't have enough time." You didn't lift your head from the paper you were reading through. You just pushed a quill and ink with a roll of parchment closer to him so he could get them without standing up. He took them wordlessly, and tapped his chin with the quill, eyeing the page with a thoughtful look in his eye. His eyes brightened as he started to write something on the paper, the gentle scribble of the quill a relaxing background in your ears as you worked.
As time passed and the sun continued its journey across the sky, the room fell to silence, save for the rustle your quills made on the papers.
"How is your poem coming along?" You asked, lifting your head from your paper. You had to hold in a laugh when you saw Elrond slumped in the chair, fully asleep. The parchment had slid to the floor, and the quill was somehow still hanging in his hand. You couldn't help the smile that spread to your lips, he looked so peaceful. You stood from behind your desk, picking up the blanket he held in his office for the late nights you would come and keep him company. You draped it over him, still smiling softly as the corners of his lips twitched upwards as he snuggled deeper into the blanket. You moved his hair out of his face and tucked it behind his ear, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead before you returned to the desk, filled with newfound vigor to finish the papers.