Master Ambrosius
My Immortal
to my friends and family, who have always supported my writing, as well as me.
Chapter#1 Elven Brother
Why should I try to be? Why should I cry tears that stain me? Why can't the ground melt before my eyes? Why can't anybody hear my pleading cries? Why do my wings tear away and crumble? Why do I have to find myself without a stumble?
Don't let me drift away Don't let me say Shrieking cries tore my soul withered voices made a hole within me
Don't let me waste away Don't let me be the one to pay just let me stay I will find my way I will find my way
Why should I care what the mortals tell me? Why should I care that nothing lets me be? Why can't I lift myself from this spot? Why can't I be more than just a dot? Why do I have this onus in my face? Why do I have to use my sword in this place?
Don't let me drift away Don't let me say Shrieking cries tore my soul withered voices made a hole within me
Don't let me waste away Don't let me be the one to pay just let me stay I will find my way I will find my way
Blood drains from my veins Dark is the light with the rains Why must everything be this way? Does everything have to end this day? Bring to me the moon So we can find a way to end it soon
Would you believe me if I said I cannot lead the life I led I watch as my life slowly dies Cannot someone singe the cries? My immortal leaves my side Is there nowhere I can hide? There is I can ever do I hope I never lose you to
Everything withers now Is there hope? Why? And how? Someday I'll find my way I'll find my way
Don't let me drift away Don't let me say Shrieking cries tore my soul withered voices make a hole within me
Don't let me waste away Don't let me be the one to pay just let me stay I will find my way I will find my way
I will find my way
Aragorn hummed softly to himself, a song he faintly remembered. He closed his eyes and swayed slightly to the music that clouded his mind. "Aragorn", someone's voice brought him back to reality. Aragorn looked up to see his greatest friend staring down at him.
"Are you all right, Aragorn?" Legolas said, a glittering smile covering his sleek elven face. Aragorn nodded weakly, "How long have I been out?"
"Almost two days, my friend. No doubt, those goblins took the advantage that you were wounded badly, and they attempted to finish you. It was good that you called for my aid, or you may as well have died", he said softly, so that no one but an elf could hear . A look of concern clouded his face, "We are still very far from your father, and he has been anxious to hear what happened".
Aragorn grinned, "News of my slip has traveled fast".
"You have no idea", Legolas muttered. He propped his friend's head on a rock. "I will have to change the bandages on these", he said pulling at the bloodstained bandages on Aragorn's head.
Aragorn winced in pain. "How far do you think we are from Rivendell?" Legolas folded the bloody bandages and put them in his pack. He was not one to litter.
"I don't know, perhaps a few hundred miles", he sighed tugging at his long golden hair. "We have run out of cloth for a bandage. Here," he said ripping a strip of silky elven cloth from his green cape, "this will have to do".
"We should start for home then", Aragorn said pulling himself to his feet.
"I don't think we should right now, Aragorn, you are still wounded badly. Have you seen the wounds in your arms, they are very deep. And I have a feeling, the puncture in you side from their scimitar was poisoned".
"Legolas, stop worrying, I can take care of myself, remember? Wild adventures and wounds honestly cannot bring me down", Aragorn said proudly.
"You humans", he muttered, grinning slightly, "You never give up".
Aragorn nodded. "Let's move".
The two friends left the miserable snowy ridge and continued through the icy valley. The wind swirled around them, blowing snow into their unprotected faces. A storm began to form on the mountain top, pulling the two friends away from their path. The sky was shaded gray, and began to darken. The clouds above were swollen and dark. Legolas scowled, yearning to feel the sun's beams touch his skin. Aragorn shivered and sank to the ground.
"Aragorn!", Legolas shook his shoulders slightly, "We must keep moving. This storm could kill us both, if we do not stop!"
Aragorn stared intently at his friend, lights swirled before him. He felt to dizzy to move. Perhaps the poison was beginning to affect him. He leaned into the snow, now so cold he felt like he would burst into flames. His eyes rolled back, as he rapidly slid out of consciousness.
There it was again, that song. But it was not he that sang its mournful tune. Aragorn opened his eyes, his eyelids were hot and sticky. His vision swam back to him in a flood. "What do you see?" a voice whispered to him, though it sounded distant.
Without think, as if in a trance, Aragorn answered, "I see her, she sang it to me."
"Who was she?", the voice asked.
Aragorn hesitated, "She was my mother".
"You are wrong", the voice hissed in his ear, "it was not her who sang it to you. She is dead, gone, she will never be back. Your adopted father. He soon will be gone too. And there is nothing that you can do to stop me."
"NOOOOOOO"!
Aragorn sat up suddenly, and gasped for breath. "
Legolas who was sitting in the corner of the room, jumped to his feet. "What is it, Aragorn?" he yelled, his hand going to his elven blade.
Aragorn touched his face, he felt clammy and hot. "What's happening to me? What happened? Where am I?"
"Aragorn, the poison in your system began to act up against you, it left you unconscious and very feverish. You must rest or you will not survive for long".
"No, we have to go. I need to get home", Aragorn croaked.
"What is wrong with you, Aragorn?" Legolas asked, a look of horror on his face, "Why is it that you are so desperate to get home? There is a storm out there". He pointed outside the cave. "It is deadly, you will not survive. Only an elf could".
"I am just as good as one!" Aragorn snarled, "Elrond is in trouble, someone is going to kill him, we must rescue him!"
"How do you know this?" Legolas asked quietly.
"Someone told me, in my dream, they said he will be gone and there is nothing I can do to stop him", He breathed.
"It is the poison, you are ill, you cannot let yourself fall to this", Legolas shook him slightly.
"Legolas, I lost my father, not to mention I saw my mother die before my eyes, I will not let it happen to Elrond".
Aragorn grabbed his pack and rose to his feet. He gave Legolas a pleading look and trudged outside of the cave. Legolas stomped out the small fire, grabbed his pack, and ran after his friend.
***
Elrond stepped outside hid study, and out into the hall. He looked outside the huge glass less windows. It is so beautiful here he thought to himself. He stared at the rushing water of the small waterfalls that surrounded his home in the valley, his home, Rivendell.
The trees bloomed with bright flowers and the leaves were full and green. He pulled his long brown hair out of his eyes, and walked down the staircase onto a low balcony. He wondered where his mortal son was. He had been gone for over a month on one of his 'adventures' with Legolas.
He fingered the ring on his finger nervously. He had heard that Aragorn was wounded, But he did not know where he was. Elrond sighed. It was like Aragorn to do something like this. He always seemed to be getting himself into trouble lately.
Elrond pricked up his sharp elven ears, as he heard a small snicker behind him. Elrond turned around to see his older sons Elladan and Elrohir kneeling on the ground, their backs turned to him. He silently padded up to them and."Boo", he hissed in their ears. He laughed as they leaped several feet in the air.
"We heard you, father!" Elrohir said shakily.
"Yes, I'm sure you did. Your elven senses are not as keen as mine", Elrond tried to hide a smile. "Now, what are you doing?"
"Nothing, father", Elladan said innocently looking up at the sky, a small golden halo almost visible over his head.
Elrohir snorted. Elrond moved his gaze him, "Yes, Elrohir?"
"Nothing, father", he smiled showing his brilliant white teeth.
Elrond smiled softly and turned away. He walked down the corridor into a small dark room. The sun's bright beams never seemed to shine here, though it was almost always directly in the light's path. Elrond's smile vanished, as he realized where he was. A huge painting and a small pedestal was all that remained in the room He padded up to the huge painting that covered most of the wall. Elrond looked at the terrified face of the young king, Isildur. Cries of terror and screams of agony swept through his mind as he remembered the battle. His eyes glanced up at the monstrous armor of the dark lord. He reached out his hand and touched the face of the dark lord. He looked in the fiery eyes of Sauron. Elrond gasped softly as he faintly saw the eyes glow with rage for a moment. He took a step back and bumped into the small pedestal behind him. The elf lord whirled around and caught the pedestal before it hit the ground. Something sharp fell off the edge of the pedestal and cut his hand, before hitting the ground with a clatter. He jammed his hand in his mouth and began to suck the blood strenuously. He bent over to see what he knocked over, cocking his head slightly in curiosity. Elrond lifted a small blade, broken in shards. "Shards of Narsil", he whispered softly to himself. He picked up the rest of the shards and placed them back on the pedestal. Elrond stepped back and admired the beautiful blade. Footsteps coming from the hall, disrupted his thoughts.
"My Lord Elrond", a voice said.
Elrond turned around to see Celebril, his trusting servant. "Yes, Celebril, what is it?"
"Someone to see you, my Lord. He waits in the hall", the elf said fidgeting.
"Thank you, Celebril", Elrond said smiling. He pulled his brown robes closer to him, and walked passed Celebril.
"Um, my Lord," Celebril said looking at the floor.
"Celebril?" Elrond turned.
"I-I do not think he is to be trusted. He is a man", Celebril stammered.
Elrond smiled, "It is all right, my faithful friend, no one is going to get hurt".
Celebril turned and followed his master to the hall.
***
"Who is he? And why does he want Elrond?"
"I do not know, all I know is that he is after Elrond, and we have to stop him", Aragorn said, pulling his cape around his body.
They had been walking for many hours. The snow whirled around them furiously. They could not see more than a few feet ahead of them. Everywhere there was white, nothing else but white. The landscape had not changed much, but they found themselves moving higher into the mountains. Aragorn grunted and staggered in the deep snow. Legolas looked around, stepping lightly on the snow so there was no footprints at all. The biting weather was not affecting him at all. He glanced at Aragorn, his eyes were half closed with ice clinging on to the lids of them. "Are you fit to move on?" Legolas asked.
Aragorn merely nodded and shivered with the cold. Legolas cocked his head to the side, and then remembered that human's bodies could not keep as warm as an elf bodies could. Legolas removed his silky cape and draped it over Aragorn's back. Aragorn looked up at his friend. "Why are you giving this to me?"
"I cannot stand the sight of you shivering like that, you are biting off more than you can chew. This blizzard is unlike any I have ever seen, and the journey to Rivendell is still long".
"Legolas, I thank you for worrying, but I know what I am doing", Aragorn smiled, "I am all right".
Legolas nodded.
For a few more hours, the friends climbed up the mountain pass, making their way slowly towards Rivendell. Legolas looked around. He sensed something uneasy over the top of a high ridge. He glanced at the ridge, he snapped his gaze above the ridge where he thought he saw the slightest sign of life. Legolas turned away, a feeling of defeat in the pit of his stomach. How can we possibly get home in this weather. Aragorn may not have a chance of survival. And Rivendell is such a far way from here, he thought bitterly to himself. What if Lord Elrond really is in trouble? What if Aragorn speaks the truth. But how is it that he knows this? How could we get to Lord Elrond in time? But in time for what? Who is it that that is after Lord Elrond? Legolas' brow furrowed in thought. Is there anyone I know who would do this? Why- Legolas' thoughts were pierced when his keen elven ears detected a small, high pitched noise. He looked up immediately to see a deadly sharp, wrangled metal arrow, arch in the sky and fall straight at them. Legolas threw Aragorn down. The arrow avoided them by inches. Aragorn stared at Legolas, transfixed in consternation. Before he could speak he heard an angry curse from the ridge above. He looked up to a band of orcs, all armed with crossbows. They grinned terribly and shot a flock of the heavy metal arrows at them. Aragorn pulled Legolas, and they stumbled along, looking for cover. The orcs reloaded their crossbows and fired again, and again. Legolas ran a little ahead, he threw his pack to the ground and grabbed his long elven bow. He pulled a long, slender arrow from the quiver slung on his back. In the blink of an eye, Legolas fitted the arrow onto the bow and set it flying straight at an orc. The arrow settled deep in the chest of the orc. It dropped the crossbow and clutched at his chest as he fell to the ground. Legolas fitted another arrow onto the bow, and sent it flying at another orc. Aragorn parried the metal arrows away, skillfully. Feeling rather jaded with the orcs, Legolas seized a handful of arrows from his quiver and fitted them all onto the bow. He let them all loose to hit their targets perfectly. Legolas gave a small laugh that turned into a yelp of pain, as a thick arrow landed deep in his leg. Legolas gritted his teeth against the pain. Aragorn saw blood soak into the cloth of Legolas' tight elven garments. Legolas' face turned deathly pale. The orcs cheered and began to set more arrows upon them. Aragorn stepped in front of Legolas and parried the arrows.
"Run!" he hissed at Legolas. Aragorn's face was set and eyes were almost red with rage. Legolas looked at his friend. He had seen his friend like this before, this was no time to stay and help. Aragorn told him to run and he meant it. Legolas leaped to his feet, with much pain, and bolted from the spot. He hid around a large boulder. He watched as Aragorn parried the blows confidently. Some of the orcs had now spilled into the area and began to fight Aragorn with large ugly scimitars. They surrounded the young ranger and dragged him down to the icy earth. "Aragorn!" Legolas screamed. Legolas limped to the orcs. He pulled out his twin blades, he twirled them expertly in his hands and jammed them in the stomach of the nearest orc. Legolas tore the blade out of the orc's flesh, as it shrieked in agony. Legolas ripped through the wave of orc's, making his way to his friend. Legolas lifted an orc by his hair, he grabbed the orcs neck and twisted it hard. He found Aragorn on the ground. He shook the ranger, "Aragorn, wake up!" Aragorn groaned and stood up. "Are you all right?" he asked Legolas.
"Am I all right?! Are you all right?!" Legolas screeched.
Aragorn laughed, "Do not worry about me". His face suddenly became grave. "Legolas.let me see your leg".
Legolas knew better than to argue. He pulled his leg in front of him, showing the deep wound. The cloth around it was torn and bloody.
"Legolas, this looks serious", Aragorn frowned.
"Now", said Legolas trembling slightly, "Is where you also stop worrying for me".
"I think I set a bad influence on you, my friend", Aragorn muttered, "At least let me clean it".
Legolas winced slightly, and nodded.
Aragorn grabbed a chunk of snow and pressed it against the wound. Legolas let out a sharp cry, and leaped away.
"Ack! I'm sorry, Legolas, I didn't mean to hurt you", Aragorn vociferated.
Legolas sat down in the snow, and stretched his leg out in front of him. Aragorn tore a bit of silk off the cape and tied it around his leg. "Done", he announced.
Legolas sighed. "Have we got anything to eat?" Aragorn inquired.
Legolas shook his blond head. "I am afraid there is nothing. Though the storm has consummated, I doubt we'll find anything tonight".
Aragorn took a small handful of snow and crammed it in his mouth. "Ahhh! It's cold!" he screamed, with a mouthful of snow.
"What did you expect?" Legolas sniggered.
Aragorn shrugged, he lay back in the snow. It wasn't so cold now. He wondered why. Legolas sat still looking up at the mountains above them. Aragorn licked a snowflake that fell on his lips. The storm diminished in the distance and now small snowflakes fell around them. Aragorn grasped a small mound of snow and smoothed it into a perfect ball. He threw the snowball at the back of Legolas' head. Legolas whirled around angrily and looked at the laughing Aragorn.
Legolas grabbed a hug mound of snow and threw it at Aragorn. "Ha!" he laughed, pointing at Aragorn. The ranger brushed the snow out of his face. The snow felt burning hot right now. Aragorn stood up.
"We should leave now", he said quietly.
Legolas nodded. He picked up his pack and slumped his bow over his shoulder. Legolas reached for his twin blades and re-sheathed them beside his quiver. He yawned and stood up, he stumbled over and grasped onto Aragorn. "Sorry", he mumbled.
Aragorn smiled, and patted his friend, "Lets go".
***
Here am I
Yet another goodbye
He says Adios, says Adios
and do you know why
she won't break down and cry?
She says Adios, says Adios, Goodbye
One by one my leaves fall
One by one my tales are told
Its no lie
She is yearning to fly
She says Adios, says Adios
and know you know why
he's a reason to sigh
she says Adios, says Adios, Goodbye
One by one my leaves fall
One by one my tales are told
My oh my
She was aiming to high
He says Adios, says Adios
and know you know why
there's no moon in her sky
he says Adios says, says Adios, Goodbye
No goodbyes
for love brightens their eyes
Don't say Adios, say Adios
and do you know why
there's a love that won't die?
Don't say Adios say, say Adios, Goodbye
Don't say Adios say, say Adios, Goodbye
Don't say Adios say, say Adios, Goodbye
Don't say Adios say, say Adios, Goodbye
~Enya~
***
Elrond tilted his head to the side, and tried to see who it was in the hall. He stepped behind the corridor. He saw it was a man, he was looking at the hall with great interest. Elrond crept behind the man.
"May I be of any assistance, friend?" He asked gently.
The man jumped and turned around, "Oh, hello. I was looking for someone named Elrond".
"That is Lord Elrond to you!" Celebril snapped from behind Elrond.
"Forgive me, Lord Elrond", the man said bowing.
Elrond laughed, "Of course. Now, can I help you?"
The man peered around, "I am a from a village not far south from here. There is a problem we discovered a few weeks ago-".
"How does that concern us?" Celebril snapped again.
"Celebril, please, let the man finish", Elrond said quietly.
"Well, some of the farmers reported missing cattle, at first we thought it was wolves that had taken them in the night, but then weird things began to happen. There were no tracks at all, usually you will find a load of wolf tracks around the barn, but we could not find any. Then stocks were dying, natural disasters began to occur, very often. And we didn't know why".
"If I may ask? What do you mean by natural disasters?" Elrond catechized.
"Well, there were floods, too much rain. There were small tremors that came along at unexpected times. And there were acid storms-"
"Acid storms!?" Celebril interrogated.
"Yes", the man said looking very helpless, "It began to rain acid. And the sky turned all green and swollen.almost like the end of the world came!"
"Apocalypse you mean, you fool! Apocalypse!" Celebril snarled.
Elrond gave him a patronizing look. Celebril shrank back, "Sorry, My Lord".
"Go on", Elrond urged.
"Well some of the men said it was dark magic created by you elves. And everything seemed to fit in, it was you elves who did this. And we want it to stop now".
"How dare you!" Celebril bellowed, "How dare you come to Lord Elrond of The Rivendell Elves and accuse him of dark magic. The fault is not ours that your cursed land is ruptured by dark arts! The fault is not ours that you are too stupid to realize this is the work of evil, not the elves! I spit at your direction, and all of your filthy race!" Elrond had to restrain Celebril from slaughtering the man.
The man paled. He removed a small knife at his belt. At that Celebril shrieked and pounced on the man, sending the two in a puff of dust. Elrond could not tell where Celebril was or whether he was all right. He stepped in between the two. "Stop this at once!" he shouted. Celebril stood still, though the man still beat him. Elrond pushed the man from Celebril. The man's lip was swollen and his eye had blown up and was now turning a nasty shade of purple. Celebril had been stabbed in the arm, his face was pale as a block of marble, and his lip was cut. Blood dripped down a cut on his head, next to his chestnut brown hair. A dribble of blood slid down his chin. Celebril, still breathing hard, had a look of sheer loathing in his eyes.
"Listen here, we elves do not concern ourselves in the business of you men. Celebril is right, this is obviously the work of dark magic, I offer you help to conceal it, but do not patronize me or my elves," Elrond said angrily.
"I don't want your help!" The man roared.
"Then what do you want, from me?" Elrond asked in disbelief.
"Your head! You elf dreg!"
Celebril whipped around and slowly removed a long sharp elven blade from its scabbard on the wall. He took a fighting stance in front of Elrond. "You want a head? Take your own!" He barked.
The man removed a small dirk from his boot and held it up threateningly. Celebril laughed, "Your blood will stain my hands before my plight is completed this day".
The man lunged a Celebril, who lightly stepped away. Celebril licked his lips and tore at the man. He made a huge gash on his side. A look of agony stained his face, blood dripped out of his open mouth. He put his hand to his mouth and gave a loud whistle.
Men slithered in the hall from every direction.
"How did you get in?" Elrond gasped, "What of my guards?"
A man dragged an elf from the corridor. The elf moaned softly he was bleeding badly from a wound in his chest. He gave a silent sigh, as the breath fell from his body, and went limp.
"Krea!" Elrond gasped, "My head guard. You could not have killed every elf in my realm"
The dying man laughed, "Do not think because you are elves you can debacle the race of men. You better believe we killed all your guards, you'll have nothing else to believe anyway. He clutched at his side and fell on his knees. He grinned nastily, "Kill the servant, take the other", then he keeled over, dead.
The men removed long swords from their belts. They began to close in on them. Celebril stepped in front of Elrond again, but Elrond grabbed a sword from the wall and took side of Celebril.
"What are you doing, I will fight them off, you run", Celebril whispered urgently.
Elrond shook his head, "I was part of The Last Alliance, I bet I still have a few tricks up my sleeve".
The men slashed madly at them, as they neatly parried off the blows and slew them with such skill. A man crept behind Celebril and lacerated his arm. Celebril dropped the sword in pain. The man dropped the hilt of his sword on the Celebril's head. Celebril fell to the ground unconscious. Elrond leaped to Celebril's side.
"Leave him, and I will go with you willingly", Elrond said quickly.
One of the men lowered his sword. Celebril silently came to, he pretended to still be unconscious. Slowly he reached for a fallen sword, while Elrond stalled them. He pulled the sword back and plunged it in the man's back. With a startled and painful cry the man fell dead at Celebril's feet. Three of the men lunged at Elrond while the rest went at Celebril.
Finally defeated, Celebril stopped fighting as someone held a knife at his neck. He glanced at his master, he to had a knife pressed to his neck. Someone catlike slipped into the room, he wore black robes that wrapped around his body tightly, like snakes. His face was covered by thin long black hair, all Elrond could see were two shining green eyes.
"What have we here?", he hissed so softly, even Elrond could hardly hear. "Lord Elrond, we finally meet at last. Again."
"Again?" Elrond quivered.
"Yes, again. Why, don't you remember me?"
"No, afraid I can't", Elrond tried to wriggle free from his captors. "What is this all about?"
"Tsk, tsk, Elrond, it's me your old friend, Crathen". He watched with amusement as the elf lord winced at the sound of the name. "Yes it is me, surprising isn't it how I survived the battle, you had me surrounded, my friend. But now it seems that the tables have turned. Now look at you, all 'caught' up", he laughed.
Elrond kept himself calm, which made Crathen rather irate.
"Kill the servant, bring Elrond", he whispered sharply. With that, he glided out the hall.
Celebril struggled against the tight grip's of the men. They raised their swords and gave him a swift, final blow.
Elrond felt considerably abhorrent. His guards had been tricked and then slain by the vile humans. His own faithful servant killed before him. And now he was going to be taken by one of his worst enemies. Elrond swore miserably to himself. Suddenly he heard a loud yell from the floor above. Then he heard loud footsteps running to the corridor. Elladan and Elrohir burst around the corner, eyes flashing, and arrows fitted in their bows and ready.
"Leave our father be, would you, you miserable cads!", Elrohir yelled.
Elladan didn't wait for them to stop or fight, he loosed his arrow at a man holding a knife at Elladan. He quickly fitted another arrow onto the string and loosed it at another. Elrohir swept out a long elven blade from his belt and brandished it menacingly. He cleaned his way to his father, by tearing through the bodies that stood in his way.
A panicked man at the back of the room grabbed a huge vase and smashed it over Elrohir's head. The young elf crumpled to the ground. Elrond, still weaponless, and having a knife still pressed to his neck, watched in horror and helplessness as the men attacked at his sons.
Elladan gave a loud warcry and slid a long blade out of his scabbard. He raised the blade up and grinned menacingly at his attackers, he lick the long flat elven blade. He struck at the men, weakening their number greatly. Soon enough, someone pierced him under his arm with his arrow. Elladan slumped against the wall and pulled the shaft from his flesh. The man laughed and slashed at the elf's face, cutting across the face. Elladan looked at his father sadly and keeled over.
"Well then, now that your sons have tried and have successfully failed in rescuing you, we will be taking you with us", Crathen said with emphasis on failed. "Is there anyone else who might try and rescue you so we can write it down?" he sneered getting up from a fancy chair at the top of a small staircase.
Elrond stood burning with anger though he did not let it show.
"I asked you something, elf" he snarled walking up to the elf lord, "Answer me".
Elrond did not answer, instead he spit in his face. "Arrgh!" Crathen wrinkled up his face and wiped the spit with the back of his black glove. He punched Elrond in the stomach. The elf lord doubled over in pain.
"Next time when I ask you something Elrond, you answer, all right?" he said walking around him. "All right?!"
"Yes", Elrond whispered.
"I couldn't hear you, my friend",
"You are no friend of mine", Elrond said between clenched teeth.
"Wrong!" he punched Elrond in the face. Blood dripped down a cut on his lip.
"Now. What were you saying?" he grinned.
"Yes", Elrond cried.
"I think I will start taking this out on you in blood, if you don't mind, of course you don't mind, do you? Good!" he pulled out sword and stabbed Elrond between his collar bone and neck. Elrond fell to his knees crying out in pain, the blade still sticking in his flesh. Crathen twisted the knife around in Elrond's body. Elrond screamed in agony.
"That's good Elrond, very good", Crathen sniggered taking the sword out of Elrond's body. Elrond moaned and fell forward.
"Get up!" he said cruelly. Elrond did not get up. "Get up!" he kicked Elrond in the ribs so hard the elf bounced in the air and landed on his side. He writhed in pain. "I said get up!" he kicked him again. Elrond pulled himself to his feet, with much effort.
Two of the men bound his hands together behind his back, and chained his feet together. "Hurry, we I think they are dead, but they could be unconscious", he snapped pointing at the elves on the floor. They led him out of the building and into the night that had just descended on Rivendell.
***
Dawn breaks; there is blue in the sky
Your face before me, though I don't know why
Thoughts disappearing like tears on the moon
Waiting here, as I sit by the stone,
They came before me, those men from the sun
Signs from the heavens say
I am the one
Now your here, I can see your light
this light that I must follow
You, you may take my life away
so far away
Now I know I must leave your spell
I want tomorrow
Now your here, I can see your light
this light that I must follow
You, you may take my life away
so far away
Now I know I must leave your spell
I want tomorrow
~Enya~
***
"Come, Legolas, we are not far from home now. Just a bit over this hill", Aragorn panted, having had run the last six miles. "Remember, this is where we used to climb the trees", he said pointing out their path".
Legolas nodded, "You are right, lets run, I hope everyone is all right and we are not too late".
Aragorn did not waste a moment longer, he sprinted over the grassy hill and sped over the sea of tall grass. Legolas followed at his heels. They heard the distant rumble of thunder, as the clouds rolled over them. The grass waved in the breeze. Cicadas rattled in the trees. Their hair was whipped back by the breeze, as they ran.
Aragorn closed his eyes, and kept running. He knew his way by heart. He scented the smell of water, leaves, and home. He let the air brush his face.
They burst through a small grove of trees, and crept around to the front of the house of Elrond. They dashed in and then skidded to a stop, their mouths hanging open. All the guards posted in the corridor were now laying on the ground. Aragorn checked the pulse of one of the guards.
"He is alive, though not conscious. He has been badly wounded in the head". He stood up, "Come on, we must find Elrond".
Aragorn sprinted up the staircase and through a small corridor. He ducked through a small room and ran through a larger corridor leading to the hall. He gaped at the sight of dead humans and elves on the ground. He searched through the mass of bodies until he found a familiar one. Elladan. He turned the body of his brother over. His eyes filled with tears. Legolas stepped into the room and saw his friend crouched over one of the bodies.
"It's Elladan!" he sobbed.
"Oh Aragorn", Legolas whispered. "I'm so sorry".
Aragorn pulled his brothers body to him, and cried on his shoulder. There was still warmth in the body. Then Aragorn noticed the faint beating.
"He is still alive!" Aragorn yelped.
Legolas bounded to his side. He touched Elladan's neck. "He is unconscious, and only just alive".
"If Elladan is here then Elrohir.", his voice trailed off. He crawled over to a pile of bodies. He pulled the sticky-with-blood-bodies away from each other. He uncovered his other brother, Elrohir.
"Elrohir?" he asked quivering. Aragorn checked his pulse. A weak pulsing was all he could here.
"Legolas", Aragorn said, rather exhortative, "We must get them some help as quickly as we can". He lifted the body of Elrohir in his arms and stood up.
Legolas grabbed Elladan's body and placed him on a sofa. Elladan stirred slightly.
"Aragorn, he's coming to", Legolas cried.
Elladan moaned piteously. "Don't move, brother", Aragorn whispered to him. "Where do you think Celebril is?" he asked Legolas.
Legolas shrugged, "Ask Elladan".
Elladan looked at his brother and smiled sheepishly. He nuzzled the soft cushion with his chin, and began to drift out of consciousness. "Elladan, listen to me." Aragorn said urgently, "Where is Celebril?" he asked slowly and confident.
Elladan turned his head to the mound of bodies, and fell limp as his soul slithered out of consciousness again. Legolas looked at where Elladan was indicating. He poked through the bodies, finally finding the body of Celebril. He felt around for his pulse. He found it, steady and slow. "He is alive also, Aragorn," he whispered softly.
Aragorn sighed in relief. "We are lucky, Iluvatar is with us".
Legolas nodded, "Though many of Elrond's elves have died this night".
Aragorn tightened his grip on his brother's body in his arms. "Lets get them upstairs". Legolas nodded, and picked up Elladan again. He followed Aragorn up a flight of stairs and through the eastern wing of the house. Aragorn turned around, hearing a quiet sob escape someone's lips. He turned to his left. "Help me", someone sobbed in Elvish. "Please".
Aragorn put down the body of his brother on a chair, and knelt by a fallen elf guard. "Yes, I am here".
"Help me", he cried bitterly, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"I am here to help you" Aragorn said softly, feeling a piercing pain through his heart. "Can you tell me what happened?" Aragorn asked.
"They came.some men.they were like hell! They're from hell!" he screamed, "They killed all my friends, they said they were after Elrond. We tried to stop them, but they were too fast".
"Are you all right, though, are you injured?"
"No I don't think so, my shoulder feels as if it would fall off though", he said breathing hard.
"Could you find those who are injured and bring them here. Those who can help you, will. And do bring Celebril here", Aragorn ordered.
The young guard nodded and went to find his injured comrades.
Aragorn picked up the body of his brother and brought him to the infirmary. They put down the bodies on the beds. Aragorn stretched a quilt over Elladan and Elrohir. Legolas crept off to find more survivors. At that moment, the guard strode inside the room. He dragged Celebril's limp form in and pulled him on a bed. Aragorn pulled a quilt over his body. The guard left the room. Legolas entered the room hoisting up a another young guard with a mutilated arm.
"I wish Gandalf was here", Legolas sighed, wiping blood from his hands.
Legolas grabbed a log from the pile next to the hearth. He threw the log in and started a warm fire. Legolas watched transfixed at the curling flames. They licked around the log, occasionally spitting and cracking sparks. Celebril writhed feverishly. Legolas walked to his side.
"Try and wake him", Aragorn urged.
Legolas hesitated, "Should I?"
"Yes, we need to find out what happened?" Aragorn hastened.
Legolas gently shook Celebril. "Wake up Celebril, we need your help". The young servant moaned and clawed at his face. Legolas took his hands within his own. They burned with fever. "Wake up, Celebril".
A loud crack was heard outside the door. Legolas and Aragorn both rested their hands on the hilts of their swords. Aragorn crept to the door. He reached out to take the handle. The door slammed open, outside the door a familiar face awaited them.
"Gandalf!" Legolas cried.
"Speak of the devil!" Aragorn said joyfully.
"You needed me?" Gandalf smiled.
"How did you know?" Legolas asked.
Gandalf shrugged, "Just instinct I guess".
"How come you never came when we needed you before?" Aragorn narrowed his eyes to slits, and laughed.
Gandalf, a huge grin on his old face, tiptoed away from them.
"Dear Iluvatar! Tell me you were not in a war!" Gandalf exclaimed looking at all the bodies on the beds. "Close to", Legolas murmured, "Someone must have attacked Rivendell"
"Well that much is obvious", Gandalf said.
"The thing is, we don't know who", Aragorn said.
Gandalf thought for a moment, "I cannot think of anyone who would do this. But I did see a load of bodies that once belonged to men."
"Some mortals did it, that much we know", Legolas said.
Gandalf pointed his staff at the fire, and the fire grew larger and warmer.
"We need to wake Celebril", Aragorn pointed. Legolas poked Celebril lightly at Celebril's arm. Celebril stirred and turned over on his side. Legolas shook him a little. Celebril opened his eyes. "Yes, master?"
Gandalf snickered softly, and stood beside Legolas. "Your master cannot be found, would you be so kind as to tell us what happened?"
"I told him they would be trouble.," Celebril told of how the mortal came and interrogated Elrond. Then how he brought his 'clan' to bring them down. He told of how he passed out, and remembered hearing Elladan's and Elrohir's voices, and Elrond's cries of pain. "I'll bet they took him", he growled.
"Yes", Gandalf smiled, "I do suggest that you and Legolas retrieve him, since you are the best at doing so", Gandalf smiled at Aragorn.
"I wish to go along", Celebril said.
"No Celebril, we will need you here", Gandalf said.
"You mean that you are not coming with us, Gandalf?" Legolas asked.
"No, Legolas, I will not be going with you. I will help here, in Rivendell", Gandalf winked at Legolas.
"Where do we begin", Aragorn asked.
"You are a ranger, Aragorn, by all means, you will find a way to begin", Gandalf laughed.
"You should take some provisions with you, Aragorn", Gandalf chortled, knowing that Aragorn was not one to waste time with provisions. Legolas nodded, I'll get the provisions. Aragorn, see if you can try finding their tracks".
Aragorn filed out of the room and went back into the hall. The bodies of the humans were still there. Aragorn knelt to the ground, looking for footprints leading out. He found a blade of grass on the ground by the chair at the top the small staircase. He lifted his gaze to the chair. Aragorn examined the surface of the chair. Someone had been sitting on it. He saw a small footprint and a piece of dirt leading back down the stairs. He followed the dirt to the edge of the door. Aragorn discovered a small trail of blood leading outside of the house.
Legolas ran into the room. He grabbed two packs from a chair beside the balcony. He ran with the two packs down an almost endless flight of stairs to the cellars. Legolas grabbed a lit torch from its place on the wall. He ran through a damp hallway. His elven eyes rapidly to the darkness. Legolas opened a heavy hidden wooden door and dashed in. He jammed the torch into the sandy ground. He looked around at the large shelves of elven foods and towering barrels of the delicate elven wines. The elf ran through the shelves, throwing anything he could find useful in both packs. He grabbed a bottle of the strongest elven wine, he might need this. The wine was guaranteed to knock anyone off their feet and have them unconscious for at least a few hours.
He began to make his way to the door, when he turned around and walked back to one of the shelves. He smiled looking at a pile of lembas, the elvish waybread, wrapped up in strong, green, leaves. They were obviously imported by the Mirkwood elves. He threw in a few leaves of the waybread in his pack, and tiptoed quietly away.
Aragorn was inspecting the ground outside The House of Elrond, when Legolas came. Aragorn stood up, "They are heading east. I am sure of it".
"I'm ready", Legolas answered.
Legolas handed Aragorn his pack. Legolas swung his bow over his shoulder. He pulled his twin blades in their scabbards, behind the bow. He tied his quiver, full with arrows, along with his bow. He tucked in a dagger on a small leather thong around his wrist. With a small flick of the wrist, he could have the knife in his hand. Legolas also placed a small dagger in his boot.
Aragorn tied his sword on his belt, around his waist. Beside the sword, he placed an elven dagger, in its scabbard.
Aragorn looked at his friend. Legolas nodded his head in return. The two friends began their journey to pursue Elrond.
***
Lazy old day
Rolling away
Dreaming the day away
Don't want to go
Now that I'm in the flow
Crazy Amazing day
One red balloon
Floats to the moon
Just let it fly away
I only know
That I'm longing to go
Back to my lazy day
And how it sings, and how it sighs
And how it never stays
And how it rings, and how it cries
And how it sails away.away.away.
~Enya~
to my friends and family, who have always supported my writing, as well as me.
Chapter#1 Elven Brother
Why should I try to be? Why should I cry tears that stain me? Why can't the ground melt before my eyes? Why can't anybody hear my pleading cries? Why do my wings tear away and crumble? Why do I have to find myself without a stumble?
Don't let me drift away Don't let me say Shrieking cries tore my soul withered voices made a hole within me
Don't let me waste away Don't let me be the one to pay just let me stay I will find my way I will find my way
Why should I care what the mortals tell me? Why should I care that nothing lets me be? Why can't I lift myself from this spot? Why can't I be more than just a dot? Why do I have this onus in my face? Why do I have to use my sword in this place?
Don't let me drift away Don't let me say Shrieking cries tore my soul withered voices made a hole within me
Don't let me waste away Don't let me be the one to pay just let me stay I will find my way I will find my way
Blood drains from my veins Dark is the light with the rains Why must everything be this way? Does everything have to end this day? Bring to me the moon So we can find a way to end it soon
Would you believe me if I said I cannot lead the life I led I watch as my life slowly dies Cannot someone singe the cries? My immortal leaves my side Is there nowhere I can hide? There is I can ever do I hope I never lose you to
Everything withers now Is there hope? Why? And how? Someday I'll find my way I'll find my way
Don't let me drift away Don't let me say Shrieking cries tore my soul withered voices make a hole within me
Don't let me waste away Don't let me be the one to pay just let me stay I will find my way I will find my way
I will find my way
Aragorn hummed softly to himself, a song he faintly remembered. He closed his eyes and swayed slightly to the music that clouded his mind. "Aragorn", someone's voice brought him back to reality. Aragorn looked up to see his greatest friend staring down at him.
"Are you all right, Aragorn?" Legolas said, a glittering smile covering his sleek elven face. Aragorn nodded weakly, "How long have I been out?"
"Almost two days, my friend. No doubt, those goblins took the advantage that you were wounded badly, and they attempted to finish you. It was good that you called for my aid, or you may as well have died", he said softly, so that no one but an elf could hear . A look of concern clouded his face, "We are still very far from your father, and he has been anxious to hear what happened".
Aragorn grinned, "News of my slip has traveled fast".
"You have no idea", Legolas muttered. He propped his friend's head on a rock. "I will have to change the bandages on these", he said pulling at the bloodstained bandages on Aragorn's head.
Aragorn winced in pain. "How far do you think we are from Rivendell?" Legolas folded the bloody bandages and put them in his pack. He was not one to litter.
"I don't know, perhaps a few hundred miles", he sighed tugging at his long golden hair. "We have run out of cloth for a bandage. Here," he said ripping a strip of silky elven cloth from his green cape, "this will have to do".
"We should start for home then", Aragorn said pulling himself to his feet.
"I don't think we should right now, Aragorn, you are still wounded badly. Have you seen the wounds in your arms, they are very deep. And I have a feeling, the puncture in you side from their scimitar was poisoned".
"Legolas, stop worrying, I can take care of myself, remember? Wild adventures and wounds honestly cannot bring me down", Aragorn said proudly.
"You humans", he muttered, grinning slightly, "You never give up".
Aragorn nodded. "Let's move".
The two friends left the miserable snowy ridge and continued through the icy valley. The wind swirled around them, blowing snow into their unprotected faces. A storm began to form on the mountain top, pulling the two friends away from their path. The sky was shaded gray, and began to darken. The clouds above were swollen and dark. Legolas scowled, yearning to feel the sun's beams touch his skin. Aragorn shivered and sank to the ground.
"Aragorn!", Legolas shook his shoulders slightly, "We must keep moving. This storm could kill us both, if we do not stop!"
Aragorn stared intently at his friend, lights swirled before him. He felt to dizzy to move. Perhaps the poison was beginning to affect him. He leaned into the snow, now so cold he felt like he would burst into flames. His eyes rolled back, as he rapidly slid out of consciousness.
There it was again, that song. But it was not he that sang its mournful tune. Aragorn opened his eyes, his eyelids were hot and sticky. His vision swam back to him in a flood. "What do you see?" a voice whispered to him, though it sounded distant.
Without think, as if in a trance, Aragorn answered, "I see her, she sang it to me."
"Who was she?", the voice asked.
Aragorn hesitated, "She was my mother".
"You are wrong", the voice hissed in his ear, "it was not her who sang it to you. She is dead, gone, she will never be back. Your adopted father. He soon will be gone too. And there is nothing that you can do to stop me."
"NOOOOOOO"!
Aragorn sat up suddenly, and gasped for breath. "
Legolas who was sitting in the corner of the room, jumped to his feet. "What is it, Aragorn?" he yelled, his hand going to his elven blade.
Aragorn touched his face, he felt clammy and hot. "What's happening to me? What happened? Where am I?"
"Aragorn, the poison in your system began to act up against you, it left you unconscious and very feverish. You must rest or you will not survive for long".
"No, we have to go. I need to get home", Aragorn croaked.
"What is wrong with you, Aragorn?" Legolas asked, a look of horror on his face, "Why is it that you are so desperate to get home? There is a storm out there". He pointed outside the cave. "It is deadly, you will not survive. Only an elf could".
"I am just as good as one!" Aragorn snarled, "Elrond is in trouble, someone is going to kill him, we must rescue him!"
"How do you know this?" Legolas asked quietly.
"Someone told me, in my dream, they said he will be gone and there is nothing I can do to stop him", He breathed.
"It is the poison, you are ill, you cannot let yourself fall to this", Legolas shook him slightly.
"Legolas, I lost my father, not to mention I saw my mother die before my eyes, I will not let it happen to Elrond".
Aragorn grabbed his pack and rose to his feet. He gave Legolas a pleading look and trudged outside of the cave. Legolas stomped out the small fire, grabbed his pack, and ran after his friend.
***
Elrond stepped outside hid study, and out into the hall. He looked outside the huge glass less windows. It is so beautiful here he thought to himself. He stared at the rushing water of the small waterfalls that surrounded his home in the valley, his home, Rivendell.
The trees bloomed with bright flowers and the leaves were full and green. He pulled his long brown hair out of his eyes, and walked down the staircase onto a low balcony. He wondered where his mortal son was. He had been gone for over a month on one of his 'adventures' with Legolas.
He fingered the ring on his finger nervously. He had heard that Aragorn was wounded, But he did not know where he was. Elrond sighed. It was like Aragorn to do something like this. He always seemed to be getting himself into trouble lately.
Elrond pricked up his sharp elven ears, as he heard a small snicker behind him. Elrond turned around to see his older sons Elladan and Elrohir kneeling on the ground, their backs turned to him. He silently padded up to them and."Boo", he hissed in their ears. He laughed as they leaped several feet in the air.
"We heard you, father!" Elrohir said shakily.
"Yes, I'm sure you did. Your elven senses are not as keen as mine", Elrond tried to hide a smile. "Now, what are you doing?"
"Nothing, father", Elladan said innocently looking up at the sky, a small golden halo almost visible over his head.
Elrohir snorted. Elrond moved his gaze him, "Yes, Elrohir?"
"Nothing, father", he smiled showing his brilliant white teeth.
Elrond smiled softly and turned away. He walked down the corridor into a small dark room. The sun's bright beams never seemed to shine here, though it was almost always directly in the light's path. Elrond's smile vanished, as he realized where he was. A huge painting and a small pedestal was all that remained in the room He padded up to the huge painting that covered most of the wall. Elrond looked at the terrified face of the young king, Isildur. Cries of terror and screams of agony swept through his mind as he remembered the battle. His eyes glanced up at the monstrous armor of the dark lord. He reached out his hand and touched the face of the dark lord. He looked in the fiery eyes of Sauron. Elrond gasped softly as he faintly saw the eyes glow with rage for a moment. He took a step back and bumped into the small pedestal behind him. The elf lord whirled around and caught the pedestal before it hit the ground. Something sharp fell off the edge of the pedestal and cut his hand, before hitting the ground with a clatter. He jammed his hand in his mouth and began to suck the blood strenuously. He bent over to see what he knocked over, cocking his head slightly in curiosity. Elrond lifted a small blade, broken in shards. "Shards of Narsil", he whispered softly to himself. He picked up the rest of the shards and placed them back on the pedestal. Elrond stepped back and admired the beautiful blade. Footsteps coming from the hall, disrupted his thoughts.
"My Lord Elrond", a voice said.
Elrond turned around to see Celebril, his trusting servant. "Yes, Celebril, what is it?"
"Someone to see you, my Lord. He waits in the hall", the elf said fidgeting.
"Thank you, Celebril", Elrond said smiling. He pulled his brown robes closer to him, and walked passed Celebril.
"Um, my Lord," Celebril said looking at the floor.
"Celebril?" Elrond turned.
"I-I do not think he is to be trusted. He is a man", Celebril stammered.
Elrond smiled, "It is all right, my faithful friend, no one is going to get hurt".
Celebril turned and followed his master to the hall.
***
"Who is he? And why does he want Elrond?"
"I do not know, all I know is that he is after Elrond, and we have to stop him", Aragorn said, pulling his cape around his body.
They had been walking for many hours. The snow whirled around them furiously. They could not see more than a few feet ahead of them. Everywhere there was white, nothing else but white. The landscape had not changed much, but they found themselves moving higher into the mountains. Aragorn grunted and staggered in the deep snow. Legolas looked around, stepping lightly on the snow so there was no footprints at all. The biting weather was not affecting him at all. He glanced at Aragorn, his eyes were half closed with ice clinging on to the lids of them. "Are you fit to move on?" Legolas asked.
Aragorn merely nodded and shivered with the cold. Legolas cocked his head to the side, and then remembered that human's bodies could not keep as warm as an elf bodies could. Legolas removed his silky cape and draped it over Aragorn's back. Aragorn looked up at his friend. "Why are you giving this to me?"
"I cannot stand the sight of you shivering like that, you are biting off more than you can chew. This blizzard is unlike any I have ever seen, and the journey to Rivendell is still long".
"Legolas, I thank you for worrying, but I know what I am doing", Aragorn smiled, "I am all right".
Legolas nodded.
For a few more hours, the friends climbed up the mountain pass, making their way slowly towards Rivendell. Legolas looked around. He sensed something uneasy over the top of a high ridge. He glanced at the ridge, he snapped his gaze above the ridge where he thought he saw the slightest sign of life. Legolas turned away, a feeling of defeat in the pit of his stomach. How can we possibly get home in this weather. Aragorn may not have a chance of survival. And Rivendell is such a far way from here, he thought bitterly to himself. What if Lord Elrond really is in trouble? What if Aragorn speaks the truth. But how is it that he knows this? How could we get to Lord Elrond in time? But in time for what? Who is it that that is after Lord Elrond? Legolas' brow furrowed in thought. Is there anyone I know who would do this? Why- Legolas' thoughts were pierced when his keen elven ears detected a small, high pitched noise. He looked up immediately to see a deadly sharp, wrangled metal arrow, arch in the sky and fall straight at them. Legolas threw Aragorn down. The arrow avoided them by inches. Aragorn stared at Legolas, transfixed in consternation. Before he could speak he heard an angry curse from the ridge above. He looked up to a band of orcs, all armed with crossbows. They grinned terribly and shot a flock of the heavy metal arrows at them. Aragorn pulled Legolas, and they stumbled along, looking for cover. The orcs reloaded their crossbows and fired again, and again. Legolas ran a little ahead, he threw his pack to the ground and grabbed his long elven bow. He pulled a long, slender arrow from the quiver slung on his back. In the blink of an eye, Legolas fitted the arrow onto the bow and set it flying straight at an orc. The arrow settled deep in the chest of the orc. It dropped the crossbow and clutched at his chest as he fell to the ground. Legolas fitted another arrow onto the bow, and sent it flying at another orc. Aragorn parried the metal arrows away, skillfully. Feeling rather jaded with the orcs, Legolas seized a handful of arrows from his quiver and fitted them all onto the bow. He let them all loose to hit their targets perfectly. Legolas gave a small laugh that turned into a yelp of pain, as a thick arrow landed deep in his leg. Legolas gritted his teeth against the pain. Aragorn saw blood soak into the cloth of Legolas' tight elven garments. Legolas' face turned deathly pale. The orcs cheered and began to set more arrows upon them. Aragorn stepped in front of Legolas and parried the arrows.
"Run!" he hissed at Legolas. Aragorn's face was set and eyes were almost red with rage. Legolas looked at his friend. He had seen his friend like this before, this was no time to stay and help. Aragorn told him to run and he meant it. Legolas leaped to his feet, with much pain, and bolted from the spot. He hid around a large boulder. He watched as Aragorn parried the blows confidently. Some of the orcs had now spilled into the area and began to fight Aragorn with large ugly scimitars. They surrounded the young ranger and dragged him down to the icy earth. "Aragorn!" Legolas screamed. Legolas limped to the orcs. He pulled out his twin blades, he twirled them expertly in his hands and jammed them in the stomach of the nearest orc. Legolas tore the blade out of the orc's flesh, as it shrieked in agony. Legolas ripped through the wave of orc's, making his way to his friend. Legolas lifted an orc by his hair, he grabbed the orcs neck and twisted it hard. He found Aragorn on the ground. He shook the ranger, "Aragorn, wake up!" Aragorn groaned and stood up. "Are you all right?" he asked Legolas.
"Am I all right?! Are you all right?!" Legolas screeched.
Aragorn laughed, "Do not worry about me". His face suddenly became grave. "Legolas.let me see your leg".
Legolas knew better than to argue. He pulled his leg in front of him, showing the deep wound. The cloth around it was torn and bloody.
"Legolas, this looks serious", Aragorn frowned.
"Now", said Legolas trembling slightly, "Is where you also stop worrying for me".
"I think I set a bad influence on you, my friend", Aragorn muttered, "At least let me clean it".
Legolas winced slightly, and nodded.
Aragorn grabbed a chunk of snow and pressed it against the wound. Legolas let out a sharp cry, and leaped away.
"Ack! I'm sorry, Legolas, I didn't mean to hurt you", Aragorn vociferated.
Legolas sat down in the snow, and stretched his leg out in front of him. Aragorn tore a bit of silk off the cape and tied it around his leg. "Done", he announced.
Legolas sighed. "Have we got anything to eat?" Aragorn inquired.
Legolas shook his blond head. "I am afraid there is nothing. Though the storm has consummated, I doubt we'll find anything tonight".
Aragorn took a small handful of snow and crammed it in his mouth. "Ahhh! It's cold!" he screamed, with a mouthful of snow.
"What did you expect?" Legolas sniggered.
Aragorn shrugged, he lay back in the snow. It wasn't so cold now. He wondered why. Legolas sat still looking up at the mountains above them. Aragorn licked a snowflake that fell on his lips. The storm diminished in the distance and now small snowflakes fell around them. Aragorn grasped a small mound of snow and smoothed it into a perfect ball. He threw the snowball at the back of Legolas' head. Legolas whirled around angrily and looked at the laughing Aragorn.
Legolas grabbed a hug mound of snow and threw it at Aragorn. "Ha!" he laughed, pointing at Aragorn. The ranger brushed the snow out of his face. The snow felt burning hot right now. Aragorn stood up.
"We should leave now", he said quietly.
Legolas nodded. He picked up his pack and slumped his bow over his shoulder. Legolas reached for his twin blades and re-sheathed them beside his quiver. He yawned and stood up, he stumbled over and grasped onto Aragorn. "Sorry", he mumbled.
Aragorn smiled, and patted his friend, "Lets go".
***
Here am I
Yet another goodbye
He says Adios, says Adios
and do you know why
she won't break down and cry?
She says Adios, says Adios, Goodbye
One by one my leaves fall
One by one my tales are told
Its no lie
She is yearning to fly
She says Adios, says Adios
and know you know why
he's a reason to sigh
she says Adios, says Adios, Goodbye
One by one my leaves fall
One by one my tales are told
My oh my
She was aiming to high
He says Adios, says Adios
and know you know why
there's no moon in her sky
he says Adios says, says Adios, Goodbye
No goodbyes
for love brightens their eyes
Don't say Adios, say Adios
and do you know why
there's a love that won't die?
Don't say Adios say, say Adios, Goodbye
Don't say Adios say, say Adios, Goodbye
Don't say Adios say, say Adios, Goodbye
Don't say Adios say, say Adios, Goodbye
~Enya~
***
Elrond tilted his head to the side, and tried to see who it was in the hall. He stepped behind the corridor. He saw it was a man, he was looking at the hall with great interest. Elrond crept behind the man.
"May I be of any assistance, friend?" He asked gently.
The man jumped and turned around, "Oh, hello. I was looking for someone named Elrond".
"That is Lord Elrond to you!" Celebril snapped from behind Elrond.
"Forgive me, Lord Elrond", the man said bowing.
Elrond laughed, "Of course. Now, can I help you?"
The man peered around, "I am a from a village not far south from here. There is a problem we discovered a few weeks ago-".
"How does that concern us?" Celebril snapped again.
"Celebril, please, let the man finish", Elrond said quietly.
"Well, some of the farmers reported missing cattle, at first we thought it was wolves that had taken them in the night, but then weird things began to happen. There were no tracks at all, usually you will find a load of wolf tracks around the barn, but we could not find any. Then stocks were dying, natural disasters began to occur, very often. And we didn't know why".
"If I may ask? What do you mean by natural disasters?" Elrond catechized.
"Well, there were floods, too much rain. There were small tremors that came along at unexpected times. And there were acid storms-"
"Acid storms!?" Celebril interrogated.
"Yes", the man said looking very helpless, "It began to rain acid. And the sky turned all green and swollen.almost like the end of the world came!"
"Apocalypse you mean, you fool! Apocalypse!" Celebril snarled.
Elrond gave him a patronizing look. Celebril shrank back, "Sorry, My Lord".
"Go on", Elrond urged.
"Well some of the men said it was dark magic created by you elves. And everything seemed to fit in, it was you elves who did this. And we want it to stop now".
"How dare you!" Celebril bellowed, "How dare you come to Lord Elrond of The Rivendell Elves and accuse him of dark magic. The fault is not ours that your cursed land is ruptured by dark arts! The fault is not ours that you are too stupid to realize this is the work of evil, not the elves! I spit at your direction, and all of your filthy race!" Elrond had to restrain Celebril from slaughtering the man.
The man paled. He removed a small knife at his belt. At that Celebril shrieked and pounced on the man, sending the two in a puff of dust. Elrond could not tell where Celebril was or whether he was all right. He stepped in between the two. "Stop this at once!" he shouted. Celebril stood still, though the man still beat him. Elrond pushed the man from Celebril. The man's lip was swollen and his eye had blown up and was now turning a nasty shade of purple. Celebril had been stabbed in the arm, his face was pale as a block of marble, and his lip was cut. Blood dripped down a cut on his head, next to his chestnut brown hair. A dribble of blood slid down his chin. Celebril, still breathing hard, had a look of sheer loathing in his eyes.
"Listen here, we elves do not concern ourselves in the business of you men. Celebril is right, this is obviously the work of dark magic, I offer you help to conceal it, but do not patronize me or my elves," Elrond said angrily.
"I don't want your help!" The man roared.
"Then what do you want, from me?" Elrond asked in disbelief.
"Your head! You elf dreg!"
Celebril whipped around and slowly removed a long sharp elven blade from its scabbard on the wall. He took a fighting stance in front of Elrond. "You want a head? Take your own!" He barked.
The man removed a small dirk from his boot and held it up threateningly. Celebril laughed, "Your blood will stain my hands before my plight is completed this day".
The man lunged a Celebril, who lightly stepped away. Celebril licked his lips and tore at the man. He made a huge gash on his side. A look of agony stained his face, blood dripped out of his open mouth. He put his hand to his mouth and gave a loud whistle.
Men slithered in the hall from every direction.
"How did you get in?" Elrond gasped, "What of my guards?"
A man dragged an elf from the corridor. The elf moaned softly he was bleeding badly from a wound in his chest. He gave a silent sigh, as the breath fell from his body, and went limp.
"Krea!" Elrond gasped, "My head guard. You could not have killed every elf in my realm"
The dying man laughed, "Do not think because you are elves you can debacle the race of men. You better believe we killed all your guards, you'll have nothing else to believe anyway. He clutched at his side and fell on his knees. He grinned nastily, "Kill the servant, take the other", then he keeled over, dead.
The men removed long swords from their belts. They began to close in on them. Celebril stepped in front of Elrond again, but Elrond grabbed a sword from the wall and took side of Celebril.
"What are you doing, I will fight them off, you run", Celebril whispered urgently.
Elrond shook his head, "I was part of The Last Alliance, I bet I still have a few tricks up my sleeve".
The men slashed madly at them, as they neatly parried off the blows and slew them with such skill. A man crept behind Celebril and lacerated his arm. Celebril dropped the sword in pain. The man dropped the hilt of his sword on the Celebril's head. Celebril fell to the ground unconscious. Elrond leaped to Celebril's side.
"Leave him, and I will go with you willingly", Elrond said quickly.
One of the men lowered his sword. Celebril silently came to, he pretended to still be unconscious. Slowly he reached for a fallen sword, while Elrond stalled them. He pulled the sword back and plunged it in the man's back. With a startled and painful cry the man fell dead at Celebril's feet. Three of the men lunged at Elrond while the rest went at Celebril.
Finally defeated, Celebril stopped fighting as someone held a knife at his neck. He glanced at his master, he to had a knife pressed to his neck. Someone catlike slipped into the room, he wore black robes that wrapped around his body tightly, like snakes. His face was covered by thin long black hair, all Elrond could see were two shining green eyes.
"What have we here?", he hissed so softly, even Elrond could hardly hear. "Lord Elrond, we finally meet at last. Again."
"Again?" Elrond quivered.
"Yes, again. Why, don't you remember me?"
"No, afraid I can't", Elrond tried to wriggle free from his captors. "What is this all about?"
"Tsk, tsk, Elrond, it's me your old friend, Crathen". He watched with amusement as the elf lord winced at the sound of the name. "Yes it is me, surprising isn't it how I survived the battle, you had me surrounded, my friend. But now it seems that the tables have turned. Now look at you, all 'caught' up", he laughed.
Elrond kept himself calm, which made Crathen rather irate.
"Kill the servant, bring Elrond", he whispered sharply. With that, he glided out the hall.
Celebril struggled against the tight grip's of the men. They raised their swords and gave him a swift, final blow.
Elrond felt considerably abhorrent. His guards had been tricked and then slain by the vile humans. His own faithful servant killed before him. And now he was going to be taken by one of his worst enemies. Elrond swore miserably to himself. Suddenly he heard a loud yell from the floor above. Then he heard loud footsteps running to the corridor. Elladan and Elrohir burst around the corner, eyes flashing, and arrows fitted in their bows and ready.
"Leave our father be, would you, you miserable cads!", Elrohir yelled.
Elladan didn't wait for them to stop or fight, he loosed his arrow at a man holding a knife at Elladan. He quickly fitted another arrow onto the string and loosed it at another. Elrohir swept out a long elven blade from his belt and brandished it menacingly. He cleaned his way to his father, by tearing through the bodies that stood in his way.
A panicked man at the back of the room grabbed a huge vase and smashed it over Elrohir's head. The young elf crumpled to the ground. Elrond, still weaponless, and having a knife still pressed to his neck, watched in horror and helplessness as the men attacked at his sons.
Elladan gave a loud warcry and slid a long blade out of his scabbard. He raised the blade up and grinned menacingly at his attackers, he lick the long flat elven blade. He struck at the men, weakening their number greatly. Soon enough, someone pierced him under his arm with his arrow. Elladan slumped against the wall and pulled the shaft from his flesh. The man laughed and slashed at the elf's face, cutting across the face. Elladan looked at his father sadly and keeled over.
"Well then, now that your sons have tried and have successfully failed in rescuing you, we will be taking you with us", Crathen said with emphasis on failed. "Is there anyone else who might try and rescue you so we can write it down?" he sneered getting up from a fancy chair at the top of a small staircase.
Elrond stood burning with anger though he did not let it show.
"I asked you something, elf" he snarled walking up to the elf lord, "Answer me".
Elrond did not answer, instead he spit in his face. "Arrgh!" Crathen wrinkled up his face and wiped the spit with the back of his black glove. He punched Elrond in the stomach. The elf lord doubled over in pain.
"Next time when I ask you something Elrond, you answer, all right?" he said walking around him. "All right?!"
"Yes", Elrond whispered.
"I couldn't hear you, my friend",
"You are no friend of mine", Elrond said between clenched teeth.
"Wrong!" he punched Elrond in the face. Blood dripped down a cut on his lip.
"Now. What were you saying?" he grinned.
"Yes", Elrond cried.
"I think I will start taking this out on you in blood, if you don't mind, of course you don't mind, do you? Good!" he pulled out sword and stabbed Elrond between his collar bone and neck. Elrond fell to his knees crying out in pain, the blade still sticking in his flesh. Crathen twisted the knife around in Elrond's body. Elrond screamed in agony.
"That's good Elrond, very good", Crathen sniggered taking the sword out of Elrond's body. Elrond moaned and fell forward.
"Get up!" he said cruelly. Elrond did not get up. "Get up!" he kicked Elrond in the ribs so hard the elf bounced in the air and landed on his side. He writhed in pain. "I said get up!" he kicked him again. Elrond pulled himself to his feet, with much effort.
Two of the men bound his hands together behind his back, and chained his feet together. "Hurry, we I think they are dead, but they could be unconscious", he snapped pointing at the elves on the floor. They led him out of the building and into the night that had just descended on Rivendell.
***
Dawn breaks; there is blue in the sky
Your face before me, though I don't know why
Thoughts disappearing like tears on the moon
Waiting here, as I sit by the stone,
They came before me, those men from the sun
Signs from the heavens say
I am the one
Now your here, I can see your light
this light that I must follow
You, you may take my life away
so far away
Now I know I must leave your spell
I want tomorrow
Now your here, I can see your light
this light that I must follow
You, you may take my life away
so far away
Now I know I must leave your spell
I want tomorrow
~Enya~
***
"Come, Legolas, we are not far from home now. Just a bit over this hill", Aragorn panted, having had run the last six miles. "Remember, this is where we used to climb the trees", he said pointing out their path".
Legolas nodded, "You are right, lets run, I hope everyone is all right and we are not too late".
Aragorn did not waste a moment longer, he sprinted over the grassy hill and sped over the sea of tall grass. Legolas followed at his heels. They heard the distant rumble of thunder, as the clouds rolled over them. The grass waved in the breeze. Cicadas rattled in the trees. Their hair was whipped back by the breeze, as they ran.
Aragorn closed his eyes, and kept running. He knew his way by heart. He scented the smell of water, leaves, and home. He let the air brush his face.
They burst through a small grove of trees, and crept around to the front of the house of Elrond. They dashed in and then skidded to a stop, their mouths hanging open. All the guards posted in the corridor were now laying on the ground. Aragorn checked the pulse of one of the guards.
"He is alive, though not conscious. He has been badly wounded in the head". He stood up, "Come on, we must find Elrond".
Aragorn sprinted up the staircase and through a small corridor. He ducked through a small room and ran through a larger corridor leading to the hall. He gaped at the sight of dead humans and elves on the ground. He searched through the mass of bodies until he found a familiar one. Elladan. He turned the body of his brother over. His eyes filled with tears. Legolas stepped into the room and saw his friend crouched over one of the bodies.
"It's Elladan!" he sobbed.
"Oh Aragorn", Legolas whispered. "I'm so sorry".
Aragorn pulled his brothers body to him, and cried on his shoulder. There was still warmth in the body. Then Aragorn noticed the faint beating.
"He is still alive!" Aragorn yelped.
Legolas bounded to his side. He touched Elladan's neck. "He is unconscious, and only just alive".
"If Elladan is here then Elrohir.", his voice trailed off. He crawled over to a pile of bodies. He pulled the sticky-with-blood-bodies away from each other. He uncovered his other brother, Elrohir.
"Elrohir?" he asked quivering. Aragorn checked his pulse. A weak pulsing was all he could here.
"Legolas", Aragorn said, rather exhortative, "We must get them some help as quickly as we can". He lifted the body of Elrohir in his arms and stood up.
Legolas grabbed Elladan's body and placed him on a sofa. Elladan stirred slightly.
"Aragorn, he's coming to", Legolas cried.
Elladan moaned piteously. "Don't move, brother", Aragorn whispered to him. "Where do you think Celebril is?" he asked Legolas.
Legolas shrugged, "Ask Elladan".
Elladan looked at his brother and smiled sheepishly. He nuzzled the soft cushion with his chin, and began to drift out of consciousness. "Elladan, listen to me." Aragorn said urgently, "Where is Celebril?" he asked slowly and confident.
Elladan turned his head to the mound of bodies, and fell limp as his soul slithered out of consciousness again. Legolas looked at where Elladan was indicating. He poked through the bodies, finally finding the body of Celebril. He felt around for his pulse. He found it, steady and slow. "He is alive also, Aragorn," he whispered softly.
Aragorn sighed in relief. "We are lucky, Iluvatar is with us".
Legolas nodded, "Though many of Elrond's elves have died this night".
Aragorn tightened his grip on his brother's body in his arms. "Lets get them upstairs". Legolas nodded, and picked up Elladan again. He followed Aragorn up a flight of stairs and through the eastern wing of the house. Aragorn turned around, hearing a quiet sob escape someone's lips. He turned to his left. "Help me", someone sobbed in Elvish. "Please".
Aragorn put down the body of his brother on a chair, and knelt by a fallen elf guard. "Yes, I am here".
"Help me", he cried bitterly, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"I am here to help you" Aragorn said softly, feeling a piercing pain through his heart. "Can you tell me what happened?" Aragorn asked.
"They came.some men.they were like hell! They're from hell!" he screamed, "They killed all my friends, they said they were after Elrond. We tried to stop them, but they were too fast".
"Are you all right, though, are you injured?"
"No I don't think so, my shoulder feels as if it would fall off though", he said breathing hard.
"Could you find those who are injured and bring them here. Those who can help you, will. And do bring Celebril here", Aragorn ordered.
The young guard nodded and went to find his injured comrades.
Aragorn picked up the body of his brother and brought him to the infirmary. They put down the bodies on the beds. Aragorn stretched a quilt over Elladan and Elrohir. Legolas crept off to find more survivors. At that moment, the guard strode inside the room. He dragged Celebril's limp form in and pulled him on a bed. Aragorn pulled a quilt over his body. The guard left the room. Legolas entered the room hoisting up a another young guard with a mutilated arm.
"I wish Gandalf was here", Legolas sighed, wiping blood from his hands.
Legolas grabbed a log from the pile next to the hearth. He threw the log in and started a warm fire. Legolas watched transfixed at the curling flames. They licked around the log, occasionally spitting and cracking sparks. Celebril writhed feverishly. Legolas walked to his side.
"Try and wake him", Aragorn urged.
Legolas hesitated, "Should I?"
"Yes, we need to find out what happened?" Aragorn hastened.
Legolas gently shook Celebril. "Wake up Celebril, we need your help". The young servant moaned and clawed at his face. Legolas took his hands within his own. They burned with fever. "Wake up, Celebril".
A loud crack was heard outside the door. Legolas and Aragorn both rested their hands on the hilts of their swords. Aragorn crept to the door. He reached out to take the handle. The door slammed open, outside the door a familiar face awaited them.
"Gandalf!" Legolas cried.
"Speak of the devil!" Aragorn said joyfully.
"You needed me?" Gandalf smiled.
"How did you know?" Legolas asked.
Gandalf shrugged, "Just instinct I guess".
"How come you never came when we needed you before?" Aragorn narrowed his eyes to slits, and laughed.
Gandalf, a huge grin on his old face, tiptoed away from them.
"Dear Iluvatar! Tell me you were not in a war!" Gandalf exclaimed looking at all the bodies on the beds. "Close to", Legolas murmured, "Someone must have attacked Rivendell"
"Well that much is obvious", Gandalf said.
"The thing is, we don't know who", Aragorn said.
Gandalf thought for a moment, "I cannot think of anyone who would do this. But I did see a load of bodies that once belonged to men."
"Some mortals did it, that much we know", Legolas said.
Gandalf pointed his staff at the fire, and the fire grew larger and warmer.
"We need to wake Celebril", Aragorn pointed. Legolas poked Celebril lightly at Celebril's arm. Celebril stirred and turned over on his side. Legolas shook him a little. Celebril opened his eyes. "Yes, master?"
Gandalf snickered softly, and stood beside Legolas. "Your master cannot be found, would you be so kind as to tell us what happened?"
"I told him they would be trouble.," Celebril told of how the mortal came and interrogated Elrond. Then how he brought his 'clan' to bring them down. He told of how he passed out, and remembered hearing Elladan's and Elrohir's voices, and Elrond's cries of pain. "I'll bet they took him", he growled.
"Yes", Gandalf smiled, "I do suggest that you and Legolas retrieve him, since you are the best at doing so", Gandalf smiled at Aragorn.
"I wish to go along", Celebril said.
"No Celebril, we will need you here", Gandalf said.
"You mean that you are not coming with us, Gandalf?" Legolas asked.
"No, Legolas, I will not be going with you. I will help here, in Rivendell", Gandalf winked at Legolas.
"Where do we begin", Aragorn asked.
"You are a ranger, Aragorn, by all means, you will find a way to begin", Gandalf laughed.
"You should take some provisions with you, Aragorn", Gandalf chortled, knowing that Aragorn was not one to waste time with provisions. Legolas nodded, I'll get the provisions. Aragorn, see if you can try finding their tracks".
Aragorn filed out of the room and went back into the hall. The bodies of the humans were still there. Aragorn knelt to the ground, looking for footprints leading out. He found a blade of grass on the ground by the chair at the top the small staircase. He lifted his gaze to the chair. Aragorn examined the surface of the chair. Someone had been sitting on it. He saw a small footprint and a piece of dirt leading back down the stairs. He followed the dirt to the edge of the door. Aragorn discovered a small trail of blood leading outside of the house.
Legolas ran into the room. He grabbed two packs from a chair beside the balcony. He ran with the two packs down an almost endless flight of stairs to the cellars. Legolas grabbed a lit torch from its place on the wall. He ran through a damp hallway. His elven eyes rapidly to the darkness. Legolas opened a heavy hidden wooden door and dashed in. He jammed the torch into the sandy ground. He looked around at the large shelves of elven foods and towering barrels of the delicate elven wines. The elf ran through the shelves, throwing anything he could find useful in both packs. He grabbed a bottle of the strongest elven wine, he might need this. The wine was guaranteed to knock anyone off their feet and have them unconscious for at least a few hours.
He began to make his way to the door, when he turned around and walked back to one of the shelves. He smiled looking at a pile of lembas, the elvish waybread, wrapped up in strong, green, leaves. They were obviously imported by the Mirkwood elves. He threw in a few leaves of the waybread in his pack, and tiptoed quietly away.
Aragorn was inspecting the ground outside The House of Elrond, when Legolas came. Aragorn stood up, "They are heading east. I am sure of it".
"I'm ready", Legolas answered.
Legolas handed Aragorn his pack. Legolas swung his bow over his shoulder. He pulled his twin blades in their scabbards, behind the bow. He tied his quiver, full with arrows, along with his bow. He tucked in a dagger on a small leather thong around his wrist. With a small flick of the wrist, he could have the knife in his hand. Legolas also placed a small dagger in his boot.
Aragorn tied his sword on his belt, around his waist. Beside the sword, he placed an elven dagger, in its scabbard.
Aragorn looked at his friend. Legolas nodded his head in return. The two friends began their journey to pursue Elrond.
***
Lazy old day
Rolling away
Dreaming the day away
Don't want to go
Now that I'm in the flow
Crazy Amazing day
One red balloon
Floats to the moon
Just let it fly away
I only know
That I'm longing to go
Back to my lazy day
And how it sings, and how it sighs
And how it never stays
And how it rings, and how it cries
And how it sails away.away.away.
~Enya~