Beta: Calenlass Greenleaf. Le hannon, mellon nîn!

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10. Where is My Little Brother?

After a long ride up the mountains, Elrohir's keen gaze spotted a human settlement. He was surprised to see that there were no guards. The entire town was bursting with activity. His curiosity stirred, the elf hid his pointed ears and long hair under his hood and walked forward.

A cart passed him, and a man yelled something to the horses. Elrohir carefully looked at it. It was laden with something, but it was covered with a grey cloth, and the load was hidden. Something in the cart, however, had caught the elf's attention, and he focused his gaze on the moving vehicle.

Something shone through a hole in the cloth, and the elf's eyes narrowed. Did he see metal?

He was just wondering what that meant, when a young boy carrying about half a dozen swords passed by him. Another cart passed, this time filled with bows.

Realization suddenly struck him. The town was preparing for war!

But against whom?

In spite of this being alarming, the war preparations were quite welcome at the moment, everyone was busy and no one paid Elrohir any attention. He could go on and look for the dungeons, where he expected to find his brother and friend, and no one would notice him.

Suddenly something caught his eye that made him freeze. Orcs!

They were walking freely across the streets, and the men seemed unimpressed. Men and orcs working together?

His silver eyes suddenly locked with an orc's. The filthy creature stared at him, sniffed and walked away. Elrohir breathed a sigh of relief.

His gaze quickly scanned the street, trying to find a sign of where the dungeons might be. A taller building on the left side stood apart from the rest, and he supposed that it was some kind of a town hall. Two guards stood in front of it, and the elf thought that they could show him his way to the prison.

"Well met, my good men," Elrohir greeted them and hesitated slightly before continuing. "My… my father was accused of stealing a chicken and was sent to prison. I want to visit him, but I don't know where to find him." The elf felt the blood rush to his face and silently cursed his poor lying skills. He could only hope that the men would attribute his discomfort to being ashamed of his father's terrible crime. If ada could see me now… I made him a chicken thief! He would be so pleased with me.

"I see," one of the men said. "I will let you in the dungeons. You need to tell the guards there your father's name and they will take you to his cell. But first you have to leave here all your weapons."

Elrohir sighed inwardly. That would complicate his plan.

The elf left his weapons and followed the man downstairs.

---

"Tessal, this is enough." Kalet grabbed the man's hand, restraining him. "Lord Merzak awaits us; we must help the injured guard. He will suspect something if we do not appear."

Tessal frowned and looked at his semi-conscious prisoner. "This scum is the one who injured the guard," he hissed.

"I know," his friend agreed. "But you must leave him now. Lord Merzak's wrath will be great if he learns that you keep him alive."

The healer hesitated for a second and nodded reluctantly. Before leaving the cell, he shot Aragorn a last glance. "Don't think I am done with you, filth," he said. "I will be back as soon as I can."

The ranger listened dispassionately as his captor's steps faded away. The two men took the torches with them, so when the door closed, the room was left in complete darkness.

Aragorn stared in the darkness trying to make out the interior of the room he was in. Tessal had left him, but he was sure his isolation wouldn't last long. He had to escape while he was alone.

He tried to move his hands, but the iron manacles were holding him tightly. He did not give up and pulled until his wrists bled. But nothing could match the bleeding in his heart, cause by a memory that gave him no peace. A scream, which had made his blood run cold. A scream of total despair.

I am coming, mellon nîn. I will keep my promise. Do not let grief take you! Hold on to hope!

But deadly silence was the only answer he received. He gave the manacles a last pull and let his head drop in defeat. He hurt everywhere, but the pain seemed numb and distant, and he felt strangely detached from his body.

Aragorn did not know how much time had passed, when soft footsteps startled him. Someone was coming to him, but it was too dark to see anything.

Suddenly the newcomer grabbed his hand, and the manacle unlocked with a creaking sound. The ranger gasped and felt his body tense. Was someone trying to free him?

The unknown person unintentionally touched one of Aragorn's wounds, and the man unconsciously recoiled. The mysterious savior stopped immediately and took a step back.

"Do not fight," he whispered. "I am going to help you."

Aragorn froze in confusion. The voice was familiar…

"Kalet?" The ranger asked incredulously. "Why are you helping me?"

The man sighed sadly. "Tessal is my friend," he said and paused as if this explanation was enough. But when the prisoner said nothing in response, he continued. "It pains me to watch him act like a beast. He is not the same after his wife and son died. He is a healer; he is supposed to heal wounds, not cause them! It is true that you are a piece of scum and you deserve no mercy, but I will not watch him fall to your level!"

Aragorn could not believe what he had heard. "So you are going to let me go?" He asked, not daring to hope. It seemed too good to be true, and he had learned that no escape that seemed too easy ever came to pass.

Kalet laughed darkly. "Tessal disobeyed our Captain, but what makes you think I would do the same? I will take you to Lord Merzak."

The ranger's eyes widened in the darkness as he tried to comprehend what was happening to him. He had just been ripped away from death's clutches only to be returned to where he had started.

"There is no need to be afraid," Kalet assured him helpfully. "Lord Merzak hates you, but he is a just and reasonable man. Your death will be quick."

Aragorn stared in disbelief, seeing all of his hopes shatter into pieces. That scream, filled with horror and despair, sounded in his mind once again. Well, at least Legolas' sorrow will not be for naught, he thought bitterly as Kalet led him out of the cell.

---

"When is it going to be ready?" The elf asked quietly. All strength and authority were gone from his voice, completely replaced by another feeling. Defeat.

"Maybe tomorrow afternoon," Elrond answered. "The mushrooms need to dry and –"

"The mushrooms! The weeds!" Thranduil shouted in frustration. "How much longer are we going to wait? I am tired of this. And for what purpose do we need this potion?" He sat on a chair and buried his face in his hands. "What if it is too late?"

"Thranduil-" Elrond took a step forward and tried to place a hand on the elf's shoulder, but the elf pulled back. "Do you believe that he is dead?"

"No!" Thranduil quickly shook his head. "I could never believe that!"

Elrond tried to smile reassuringly. "Then fear not. A father's heart can often foresee what even the wisest cannot."

"Fear not?!" The King stared at the peredhel in anger and disbelief. "My son is dying and you dare tell me not to fear! What do you know of my fears?!"

Elrond frowned. "You forget that it is not only your child who is out there," he reminded sternly.

"It is my child who is poisoned and dying!" Thranduil shouted. Then he closed his eyes and sighed. "I am sorry, mellon nîn. I know that you fear too. Forgive me."

The dark-haired elf shook his head. "You do not need to ask for my forgiveness, my friend. No one can blame a father for loving his son too much."

Thranduil nodded his thanks, but his face was still pale. "There is a thought that gives my soul no peace," he whispered. "If Legolas has not taken the antidote, he must be dead by now." He paused and gazed through the window, a faraway look on his face. "And if he has found and drunk the antidote, then why… why isn't he home?"

The look of despair on the noble face nearly broke Elrond's heart. Those blue eyes were pleading for reassurance, but reassurance was something he could not give.

If Legolas had taken the antidote, then why were he and Estel still away?

His heart told him that he did not want to know.

---

Yes, he was unarmed. But the guard did not know that the hands of an elf were weapons by themselves, and could be as deadly as any dagger. And he was unprepared when the two strong hands grabbed him and slammed him against the wall with a speed he never thought possible. And he could do nothing when the visitor reached out for his own dagger and pressed him against his throat.

"You will do as I tell you," the fair voice said softly, and the guard could do nothing but nod.

---

Kalet stopped in his tracks and looked down guiltily.

Tessal stared in shock. He could not believe what he was seeing. His friend was climbing up the stairs, half dragging, half carrying the ranger with him. "Where do you think you are taking him?" He hissed dangerously.

"Where he is supposed to be," Kalet replied. "I will take him to Lord Merzak. I cannot let him turn you into a beast."

The wild glimmer in Tessal's eyes told him that it was already too late to stop that. "This man is a friend to the ones who killed my child!" He shouted. "Leave him to me."

Kalet firmly shook his head. With a scream, Tessal lunged at his surprised friend and pushed him against the wall. His head impacted with the stone, and his body fell listlessly to the ground.

Tessal's eyes widened in horror. "Kalet!" He screamed and shook his friend. "Kalet, wake up!" He looked around widely and buried his hands in his hair. "What have I done?!"

Aragorn didn't wait for him to come to his senses. He grabbed a torch from the wall and slammed it into the kneeling man's head, letting him fall over his friend's body.

The ranger stood up, but had to lean on a wall immediately. All of his new and old injuries hurt, and the poisoned wound at his side had taken turn for the worse. Moreover, he had lost blood, which made him feel weak and lightheaded. He tried to take a step, but collapsed to the ground in utter exhaustion.

But then he closed his eyes and shook his head as if to chase the dizziness away. When his eyes opened, they were shining with a new determination. His hand found the wall, and leaning on it he carefully limped forward.

He had a friend to save. A friend, who needed to be saved not only from restricting bars, but also from the trap of overwhelming grief. And Aragorn knew that he was the only one who could do that.

---

The light feet made almost no sound as they touched the soft grass, so the only thing that disturbed the silence were the joyful songs of birds. It was early spring and the trees had just started to bloom, filling the air with pleasant smell. The river sang merrily, the sound setting every heart to peace.

But not his.

No, even the beauty of Imladris could not soothe his broken soul. For he had come with a grievous task. He had to tell them.

Legolas froze still as he spotted a woman, sitting on the grass in the distance and admiring a splendid rose garden. Gilraen? What was Aragorn's mother doing in Rivendell? In the recent years she spent more time with the rangers. The elf closed his eyes and cursed his ill fortune. It was bad enough that he had to face Lord Elrond and the twins, but now he had to tell her as well.

Suddenly grin determination shone in his eyes, and he strode forward. What had to be done had to be done.

But then his resolve faltered once again, as he saw another woman coming at him. This one was younger, or at least she looked so. Only the wisdom in her ageless eyes spoke that she had seen more winters than any human ever would.

Legolas stared in shock. Arwen had not visited her father's home in four years, since the time when Aragorn had seen her for the first time. Why was she here now? Did he need to tell all of them at once? The elf sobbed quietly and a single tear rolled down his cheek. The grief he was going to cause them all in a single day was too much to bear.

The elleth ran smiling at him. "Legolas!" Her voice rang like little bells. "I haven't seen you in ages, mellon nîn!" She suddenly stopped as she saw that the blue eyes were wet. "Legolas?" Arwen whispered worriedly.

The elf opened his mouth to say something, but his throat felt dry. The only sound that left his lips was a soft sob, which did nothing to alleviate Arwen's worry.

Her grey eyes suddenly widened at a sudden thought. "Legolas, where is Estel? I thought he was in Mirkwood with you."

Legolas tried to answer, but stopped as he saw a tall, dark-haired elf striding towards them. Elrohir's face broke into a smile, which quickly faded as he saw his friend's expression. "Legolas, what happened?" He asked urgently.

"El," his sister whispered in a small and frightened voice. "El, Estel isn't here."

Elrohir gasped and turned towards his friend. "Legolas, where is Estel?" He asked urgently.

"I… I just need to talk to your father," the golden-haired elf whispered weakly. "Please, take me to him."

The peredhel frowned. "Where is he?" He asked frantically this time. "Where is my little brother?"

Legolas was saved from an answer as a sudden noise woke him up. Ha did not remember falling asleep, but apparently grief had exhausted him more than he had realized. He rose and rubbed his eyes, trying to come back to his senses.

Thank Valar, it had been only a nightmare.

A nightmare? The elf's gaze wandered towards the carefully folded cloak he had used as a pillow. The droplets of blood had dried by now, but the pain was fresh as before. And Legolas knew that what he had seen in his dream would come to pass sooner or later.

He was taken out of his thoughts as he realized what had awoken him. Someone was trying to unlock the door.

The sound was heard once again, and then the dangling of keys followed. Obviously someone was trying different keys, and didn't know which one was right. Three more keys were tried until the door opened with a soft crack.

And Legolas stared at two familiar silver eyes.

---

Merzak raised his head at the soft knock. He prompted the visitor to come in, and Galen entered, followed by a relatively large orc.

The Captain could not resist the urge to flinch at the sight of the gruesome creature. He was revolted that he had to be allied with orcs, but he had no choice. If he wanted to defeat the elves, he had to use every possible help, no matter how disgusting it could be.

"Everything is ready, my Lord," Galen reported. "Every warrior is supplied with the necessary weapons. We are waiting for your command."

"And you shall have it," Merzak said. The orc grinned, and the man felt the strange urge to take his words back. But it was too late. "Order the troops to march to Mirkwood. This is the day the Elves will fall."

---

"Legolas?" Elrohir stared at his friend worriedly, confused by the emotions he could see on the fair face. He expected to see joy and relief, but instead there was only mild surprise. And fear. Fear? Why would Legolas be afraid of him?

Little did he know that his friend feared facing him as he feared nothing else.

"Legolas, I am so happy to see you alive!" He continued, despite the lack of response. "I was told that you were poisoned."

"I drank the antidote," the golden-haired elf replied dryly. He remembered that cursed decision too well. How he wanted to take it back! How he wanted to refuse the antidote and let the poison destroy him, instead of paying that great prize!

Somehow that statement didn't lighten Elrohir's spirit. The peredhel looked around the cell, sensing that something was amiss.

"Legolas," he asked, his brow furrowed, "where is Estel?"

Instead of an answer, the elf sobbed quietly as he saw his nightmare repeat.

"Legolas?!" Elrohir paled, sensing that he wouldn't like the answer. His heart was beating in panic, afraid of what he might hear. "Where is my little brother?"

"I am sorry, Ro," Legolas whimpered. "I am so sorry."

Before the horrified peredhel could realize what his friend was sorry about, Legolas bent down and carefully picked up something from the floor. Elrohir gasped in shock and grabbed Aragorn's cloak. The dry blood stains were clearly visible.

"No." The elf whispered and shook his head in utter denial. "It cannot be!"

Legolas felt his eyes sting with tears. He clasped his friend's arm, trying to offer what small comfort he could, but it was hard to give something he didn't have himself.

"It's not true!" Elrohir stated angrily. "I refuse to believe it. I cannot!" He looked wildly around, his gaze finally coming back to hid friend's face. "I cannot," he sobbed softly and fell to his knees.

Legolas knelt before him and let him bury his face in his chest. Elrohir screamed and wept, and his cries were muffled by his friend's now wet tunic. Finally, he raised his face and wet grey eyes met blue.

"Estel died to save me," Legolas whispered and looked down, his voice filled with regret.

"Then let his sacrifice not be in vain," Elrohir answered softly. "You must be brought to safety."

Legolas shook his head. "No. I have to do something first. I have to kill the man who did this to Estel."

Elrohir nodded in understanding. "Good. Let us finish this."

To his horror, Legolas shook his head once again. "No, Ro. I will do it alone. There is something else you need to do. Estel and I came here because many elves had disappeared. We now know that it was Merzak's deed. I do not know if they are still alive, but if they are, they must be somewhere in the dungeons. And I have reasons to believe that one of my friends, Hirvegil, has come to my rescue and has been captured. Please, mellon nîn, you have to find them!"

"Alright, we will kill that Merzak and find them after that."

"No! If Merzak is killed, everyone will go looking for us. Besides, their hatred towards elves will deepen and they might decide to kill the captives. And we cannot free them first for once again this will raise their suspicions and make them careful. The two tasks must be done at the same time."

Elrohir shivered slightly when Legolas referred to a man's murder as a 'task', but he could easily understand his friend. "I am not leaving you alone," he stated firmly.

"You must, Ro. More is at stake than my safety."

"We do not need to kill Merzak now! Return home to your father. Later he will send an army and destroy him!"

Legolas sighed sadly. "No, mellon nîn. I must do this. I beg you, you have to understand."

Elrohir bowed his head in defeat. He understood.

"Take this to your family." Legolas handed him the ranger cloak, but suddenly froze. "Wait! I forgot something!" He reached into the cloth and pulled out the long, wooden pipe. "I need this," he murmured before sticking it into his belt. Elrohir gave him a strange look but said nothing.

"Be careful, mellon nîn," he finally said. "Estel would want you to return home safely."

"I know," Legolas whispered in return. Yes, he knew. But it didn't change how he felt. And he did not care if he would return home safely.

The two elves left the cell together, but then their roads separated. Legolas went up in search of Merzak's quarters, and Elrohir went down to search the dungeons.

Legolas walked up the stairs. As he had ascended a level, he walked down a corridor, curious to see if he had left the dungeons already. He stopped to lean against a wall before continuing forward. He was weary with grief, and he knew it. He was so tired, that he didn't hear the footsteps behind him.

And when someone grabbed him and a hand was firmly pressed against his mouth, it was too late to fight.

TBC

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