Chapter Fourteen submitted 8-16-07.
I apologize for any shortness in this chapter, or any errors that I may have made in the writing of it. It is meant to be an interlude of sorts. My senior year of school started on Monday, and I've been trying for four days to get my schedule, which got messed up somehow when they were putting it together, in order. I finally got it done today, but between that and my English, Anatomy, and Calculus homework I haven't had much time at all to write. I am going to work on the sequel to this story over the weekend if I can, and with luck and God's help, I should hopefully have the first chapter of The Red Hunters posted a week or two after I finish this story. Three more true chapters after this one, which is chapter fourteen!
Summary: When disaster strikes, Legolas is saved by an ancient warrior who is supposed to be long dead. Rated PG-13 for violence, blood, and action.
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, the Silmarillion, or any related characters or works. They belong to Mister J.R.R. Tolkien.
PILLAR OF STRENGTH.
Book One in the IAUR MIN Series.
By GundamWingFanatic90.
CHAPTER 14.
Neither Celebrían nor Elrond could eat anything at supper that night, their stomachs turning with worry. Thranduil managed to force some light soup down, and Andiach, in an effort to keep some sense of normalcy, ate a roll with her soup and chatted light-heartedly to relieve the tension at the table. However, though she was trying her best, even she knew that she was fighting a losing battle.
It was after the meal had been cleared away and when everyone was moving off to do their own thing that Thalion burst into the hall.
"Hîr Elrond, Aran Thranduil! Your sons return!" he cried. Thranduil and Elrond were out of the room in a flash, beating a hasty path down to the courtyard. When they reached the steps before the gate, a pair of horses had just come to a halt. The fathers' blood froze in their veins at the haggard sight that met their eyes.
The twins were slumped over the necks of the horses, unconscious, their torsos and arms heavily bandaged. Legolas was out of it, as well, barely aware of his surroundings and sporting a gash across his forehead. The only one even remotely aware of what was going on was the raven-haired elf riding behind Elladan; even he had sustained numerous wounds, the most grievous being a gash in his shoulder that was oozing black ichor.
The king and Elrond wasted no time in aiding the injured elves; Glorfindel came barreling outside an instant later and started helping, too. Elrond took Elladan off of his horse with the aid of a feverish and trembling Halrana. The master healer noted that the other elf seemed to be struggling to breathe, but did not have the chance to do anything before Halrana was dismounting unsteadily. Elrond looked over to where Glorfindel was taking Elrohir inside and Thranduil was aiding Legolas, and followed them.
"Come, penneth," Elrond said to Halrana. The other elf scowled weakly at the healer, but followed nonetheless. They moved quickly through the palace, despite the fact that Halrana was quite unsteady on his feet, and within moments had made it to the halls of healing. Elrond carried Elladan into one of the rooms and laid him upon a bed; the other was occupied by Elrohir, who was being treated by three of the Mirkwood healers. Two were tending Legolas, behind whose chair Thranduil hovered anxiously. Another pair of healers came over to Elrond as he turned to take up a knife with which to cut away the bandages around his son's chest, arms, and back.
"Cut away the bandages carefully," he instructed a younger healer unnecessarily, remembering the faint Halrana. The healer nodded and set to the task. Elrond glanced around and, seeing that the room was too crowded, took Halrana by the arm and led him out to the hall.
"Hannon le, stranger," Elrond said as he guided the other elf into the healing room next door. "You have my eternal gratitude for aiding my sons and the prince as you did." A pair of unfocused grey eyes turned to look at the Peredhel.
"Why are there two of you, Elrond? Is Elros standing beside you again?" asked Halrana. Then he promptly passed out, eyes rolling into the back of his head and knees buckling. Elrond's grey eyes were wide, and he wasted no time in settling the raven-haired elf in the room's bed. Then he spun around for herbs that he would need. However, when he turned back to his patient, his eyes widened further, and his jaw dropped slightly as he saw red spreading through the other elf's hair like a ripple in a pond.
"…By the Valar…!" he breathed, but he shook himself and set the herbs down on the table so that he could remove Halrana's tunic so to inspect the wound. When he saw the angry red scar around the other's forearm five inches above the wrist, everything clicked into place, and Elrond frowned in amazement and confusion. But how was he alive when he was supposed to be dead?
Again, I apologize for the shortness. The next chapter is really short, and then the last two are, I think, the longest chapters in the story.
Hîr – Lord, denoting a high rank below a king but nearly equivalent (such as Elrond); also used to display a great deal of respect
Aran – literally, 'king'
Penneth – young one
Hannon le – Thank you.
Alright, that's that chapter. I hope that you enjoyed it.
Thank you to all who reviewed the last chapter: Nessa Ar-Feiniel, Lilandriel, and Anoriel of Gondor. Thank you also to ArwenGreenEyes, who reviewed chapter four a few days ago. I'm so glad that you have all stuck with me all this way! Hugs and lembas to you all!
Next chapter will be posted on 8-23-07.
-Fanatic