Summary: Legolas and Aragorn ride ahead to Mirkwood to celebrate an occasion but never make it.
Disclaimer: I don't own them for their own good.
A/N: Written for a challenge issued on Mellon Chronicles.
Chapter 11
Elrond and Thranduil made their way up the stairs and down the hall to the guest rooms. "Your son is as stubborn as you Elrond, but as thoughtful as someone else I knew long ago."
Elrond's smile could not be missed. "Aye, he reminds me of Celebrian quite often. He thinks of things that I never even fathom. Hannon le for going along with this celebration, it means a lot to him to be accepted by you."
"Tis a gesture I am glad I could give. I think of your sons as my own. I would kill for them, and before the day is over and the jests about my age continue I may have to take them over my knee."
Elrond laughed again pushing open the door to the guest room that should have held the pair, but, but once they stepped into the room, Elrond's face turned quite pale. "Estel!" he called out, but got no answer in return.
"Perhaps they are in the bathing chamber?" Thranduil offered. Elrond swung open the door to the bathing chamber off of the room, and again found no one.
This sent a shiver of dread down Elrond's back. "Where could they be? I know they couldn't have gotten that far alone."
Thranduil went to the doorway and called for one of his guards. The guard came running from down the hallway, his face quite stern having been called by his King. "What can I do for you?"
"My son, and that of Lord Elrond. Have you seen them?"
"Aye, I have seen them, leaving the grounds. They were escorted by another elf, their friend I assume."
"You assume wrongly!" Thranduil shouted. He and Elrond took off in a run, the shouting having alerted the twins and Erestor as they passed them on the stairs. "Your brother has been taken, and Legolas as well. Grab your swords and meet me by the door!" Elrond yelled.
Everyone scrambled to the doorway, but none were fast enough to catch the elven fathers. Thranduil and Elrond flung the door open, running out into the courtyard, swords drawn already.
The five of them scoured every inch of the courtyard from the gardens, to the fountain but no sign of the two were found. Elladan and Elrohir had split up searching the grounds past the stables, and that is when Elladan saw it, the blood on the ground. "Ada!" he yelled, bringing the others to him.
Blood was pooled onto the ground, not much but enough to send fear into their hearts. "Someone has harmed them. Someone has dared to touch them!" Elladan said, standing his fingers wet with the blood.
Elrond scanned the area, looking for even the slightest of clues. "I do not see them, and yet I know they are not far away." He turned to start walking towards the gate but Thranduil was not moving to follow them. "Are you not coming? Our sons are in danger."
Thranduil stood still, his face wrinkled in concentration. "The trees speak of evil that has passed. They tell me that we should follow it to the river."
The five of them took off towards the river. It would take them over an hour on foot, but they were running, and Amras had not been there long considering he and his two hostages moved much slower.
"Remove your shirt!" he yelled to Estel. Though Estel tried he could not pull his arms up to get the shirt off. Amras seeing him struggle laughed. "You were going to slay me with your sword, and yet you can't even complete the simple task of taking off your own shirt. Tell me son of Elrond, just how were you going to slay me?"
Estel spat in the elf's face. "The Valar would have sent me the strength to kill you." This angered Amras and he drew the sword over Estel's chest, cutting both the shirt away and slicing his chest. "Ahhh, the blood of a traitor. It warms my heart to know that I shall see the pain in your father's eyes. Though I must admit he isn't really your father is he."
"Lord Elrond is his father!" Legolas shouted.
"No one asked for your opinion son of Thranduil!" Legolas saw the strike coming but he could not avoid it. The blow to his mid section sent him doubling over in pain.
Amras returned his gaze to Aragorn, running the tip of his sword across his neck. "You know I think I would take more pleasure in killing you with my bare hands."
"If that is what you feel you must do, but know that my father shall avenge my death, and take your life." Aragorn sounded much braver than he felt.
Amras smirked, the smile on his face growing as a thought came to him. Aragorn waited for the blow but it never came, instead he watched as Legolas was struck again. Amras laughed as Legolas' body shook. Each blow to his stomach sent another wave of nausea over him, until he felt as if he would black out. Legolas' lips were bleeding as he bit down on them to keep from screaming. The next blow sent Legolas to his knees, his breaths coming in gasps now.
"Do you see. Your friend here is an elf, and yet even he cannot withstand what I have planned for you. Take one last look at Arda for it shall be your last." Amras raised his sword, and Estel hung his head in defeat. He knew he would die here, but he could not stop the tears that welled in his eyes knowing he would not get to say goodbye to his family. He heard Legolas yelling for him, but he couldn't bear to face him, not now, not knowing it would be the last thing he saw.
Amras swung the sword to kill Estel, but the sword was knocked from his hands. He looked around in shock, and from fifty feet away he saw King Thranduil, his bowed poised to kill him. "Step away from my son," Elrond said, advancing on him, the others weapons drawn as well.
Amras knew that they would kill him, kill him as they did his brother, his friends, and he was not going to die so easily. Grabbing Estel around the throat he placed his body in front of his own. "You deem to hide like a coward!" Thranduil shouted. "Come and face your destiny with death!"
Amras worked quickly with the rope that bound Estel, and pulled his hands free, tying them again behind his back. "I am no coward, but neither am I a fool. You killed my brother, and that is to be my fate as well. Tell me why you cast me from your realms."
Elladan grew angry and started to head towards Amras. The only thing that stopped him was the look of fear and pain in his brother's eyes. "As you can see I have no problem killing the human. One step closer and you will no doubt kill me, but not before I kill him."
Elrond halted Elladan, but himself moved closer, gauging just how serious his son's wounds were. "You can release my son, and no harm will come to you till after your trial."
"I have taken the King's son, and his friend, though do not dare to call him your blood. This is nothing more than a waif you have bestowed kindness upon. I know my fate so do not profess your lies to me."
Legolas moaned, trying to loosen his bonds, and for a split second his grip on Estel loosened. Estel knew this was his chance and tried to twist away. Amras' elven reflexes were quick, and for Estel's troubles he received a blow to the ribs.
"We must do something Ada! If we continue to stand here he will kill them both!" Elrohir said, noticing that Amras was stepping back to stand in front of Legolas.
"I shall try to distract him, Thranduil, once his eyes are averted try to sneak around him."
Thranduil knew it would be no use. Though Amras was not the brightest elf, he would notice if he were missing. He took matters into his own hands, and stepped closer, walking right towards Amras. "You should end this now, before it goes any further. If so you will only spend your days in the dungeons, rather than dead."
"Stop! Do not step any closer!" Amras screamed, the grip around Estel's throat causing him to gasp for air. "Do you think I fear death? My family is dead, my brother slain by your own. I fear nothing Thranduil." To prove his point Amras grabbed Legolas by his hair, then smacked his head on the tree.
The blow sent Legolas into darkness, a well wished darkness to keep the pain away. Amras backed up further, and felt himself stumble just a bit. Looking down he saw the large rock he had stumbled on and knelt down to pick it up, never taking his eyes off Thranduil and Elrond.
With one hand around Estel's throat and the other holding the rock a smile came over his face. With as much force as he could he smashed the rock into Estel's stomach, the scream echoing across the field. "That was for my father," Amras said.
Elrond was livid. "You will release my son!" Elrond advanced on Amras, his sword drawn.
Amras could see the hatred in his eyes and grew scared. He had heard stories from his father about the war. It was told that Elrond fought and slayed many of Sauron's minions, and he looked ready to kill again. Again Amras raised the rock, this time bashing Estel in the stomach. Estel could no longer stand the pain and his knees buckled, sending him and Amras to the ground.
Elrond and Thranduil stepped closer, knowing that the elf could not recover fast enough. Thranduil cursed himself for not bringing his bow. At this range he could easily have killed him. Thranduil was close enough now to see the blood on Legolas' brow, and the sweat glistening on Estel's as he fought to stay conscience. I shall have your head for this Amras."
Amras smiled, a strange smile in fact, and from his back he pulled a dagger. "You may have my head King Thranduil, but not before I kill them both. My life means nothing to me, only the thought of revenge keeps me from taking my own life."
Elrond was not swift enough, nor was Thranduil before the dagger was plunged into Legolas and then pulled free. The wound it left in his side bled freely, and then Amras once again looked up. "A life for a life I would say is fair, and that was for my brother. This however is for my own life which I am sure will end here today." With that Amras plunged the blade into Estel's stomach.
He did not have time to pull it free, for Elrond and the others were on top of him. Elrond pulled Estel from his grasp, while Thranduil ran to Legolas. This left Amras alone with the twins and Erestor. Elladan was quick to hold his sword high, the blade ready to kill the elf at his feet, but his arm was stayed by that of Erestor. "You once slipped into darkness, taking the lives of those who had harmed your mother. Do not again travel down that path."
"He has taken Estel and Legolas and brought harm to them. Estel at this very moment may be dying and you wish to show him mercy?"
"Nay, he deserves no mercy, but neither should you kill him." Elladan scoffed at the advisor, but turned his attention back to his father who shouted. "Hurry, we must get them back to the palace if we have any hopes of saving them." Elladan turned to help his father and heard Amras start to laugh.
"A fitting death for the king's son and the bastard that Elrond calls his." Elladan started to walk back towards the elf who was laughing. He would kill him despite Erestor's warning, but he was too late. Amras' head rolled from his body to his feet, and Erestor wiped his sword clean.
Elladan was shocked, "You said ..."
"He had no right to call Estel that. One who relishes the pain of others, and dares to call a son of Elrond any name other than his given one should perish, as he has done. Come, we should run ahead and prepare the healing wards. Your father will need all the help he can get if he is to save them."
The twins and Erestor ran ahead, shouting as they did to the guards. Elrond and Thranduil carried the injured pair back through the courtyard. Their breathing had become shallow, the skin pale. Elrond feared they would die if they did not act quickly but what hurt him the most were the whispered words from Estel. "Tua amin Ada."
Tua amin Ada - help me father