Disclaimer: I do not own Mirkwood, Legolas, Orcs, Gollum, or any other thing that J. R. R. Tolkien himself created. (I do own Echiril! *feels special because she actually does own something*)
Wow…that was actually pretty fast. Even though it took me so long to update, I had it written very very quickly—when I was finished, the last chapter still only had about seven reviews on it!
And I actually like this chapter! …short as it is…
(Taken in Moria was updated…*is happy*)
*~*~*~*
As the sun slowly came up, creating a beautiful sunrise, Elladan clenched his eyes tight, gritting his teeth against the pain that jolted through his body. He tried his best to stay still, so as to not upset the wounds or bandages further, but even with all his determination, the Elf couldn't help but roll onto his side slightly and curl up. With the movement, he could feel the injuries cracking and opening, warm blood flowing down his side and staining the floor. Elladan whimpered slightly. "El—rohir," he gasped, before his brown eyes rolled back into his head and his body slumped.
Elrohir slowly walked into the room his twin was being treated in and walked past Frodo's bed, pausing for a second to make sure that the Halfling was still alive, although asleep. Legolas followed closely behind, his hands shaking. He didn't want to look upon the wounded Elladan, with the guilt that he was the one who had injured him.
Elrohir got to the end of the bed and peered over, onto the floor where a mattress had been laid for Elladan, then cried out fearfully. Elladan lay slumped on his side, blood rapidly draining onto the floor. His face—almost white as snow—contrasted sharply with his ebony hair, and his dark lashes stood out from his clenched eyes. "Elladan!" the younger twin shouted, and rushed to his brother, gently rolling him back onto the mattress. He turned to Legolas. "Get Father!" he cried desperately. "Please…hurry!"
Legolas was unable to move. His eyes had locked onto Elladan and the crimson that was rapidly staining his light garb. The prince could hear Elrohir yell something, but he couldn't move—couldn't think—blood—running—death—dead—my fault—not an Elf…
Elrohir watched in shock as Legolas fainted, hitting his head on the bedpost as he went down. A tiny whimper came from the bed and the Halfling opened his gorgeous, attractive, enchanting, lovable, charming, adorable, sweet, precious, (*dreamy sigh*) baby-doll, puppy-dog, sparkling blue eyes and looking about the room, dazed. "Gandalf?" he questioned to the air, then yelped when a dark-haired Elf suddenly appeared from nowhere, running out of the room, yelling rapid elvish words that he could barely understand: "Father…dying…opened…!"
Elrohir leapt to his feet when he saw Legolas crumple, knowing that he had to get his father to try and bring Elladan back to the light. "Ada! Elladan ná fir! Harwërya panta!"
Elrond looked up sharply from his heated conversation with Thranduil with Elrohir stumbled into the room. "Father! Elladan is dying! His wounds have opened!"
The Elf-Lord pushed past Gandalf and his youngest son and ran into the adjoining room, ignoring the confused Halfling that sat upon the bed. Elrond knelt down by Elladan and checked his pulse, and was relieved but at the same time nervous about the weak throb that his fingers found. Quickly, Elrond grabbed some fresh bandages from the trunk at the foot of the bed and wrapped them around Elladan's chest, trying desperately to stop the blood flow. There was a faint moan from behind; the Elf-Lord paid it no notice, desperate to save his son. Elrohir looked over his father's shoulder anxiously, jaw clenched and hands trembling. The younger Elf was muttering rapid prayers to Elbereth under his breath.
Elrond swallowed the bile that worked up into his throat. He was a healer, yes, and most certainly used to sights such as blood, but he was not used to seeing the blood cover his own son. The Elf-Lord hurriedly tied off the last bandage, but noted with dismay that the wounds would not stop flowing. "Elladan, no…" he whispered.
The older twin opened his eyes slightly. "El…rir?" he slurred.
Elrohir knelt by his twin, fighting back tears. A slender hand was placed on his shoulder, and the ebony-haired Elf glanced back to see a horror-stricken Legolas kneeling behind him. Elrohir turned back to Elladan and grabbed his brother's hand, squeezing it tight.
The wounded Elf's lips turned up in an impossibly tiny smile, then his eyes closed, and his chest stilled.
Elrohir's face paled and he stared at the dead body of his twin in disbelief…confusion… Valar, why? The Elf swallowed and looked up, eyes blank. His mouth opened slightly in shock, and he mouthed one word: "No…" His breathing became rapid and uneven, rasping in his throat, his chest barely moving. He looked like a statue for several more moments, before he rose to his feet and ran from the room.
Legolas watched as Elrond rushed forward to the body of Elladan, placing his lips upon those of his dead child's, breathing into his body, making the still chest rise slightly. When he pulled back for a brief instant, the Elf-Lord looked at Gandalf, who stood with Thranduil in the doorway. "Mithrandir! Help me!" He lowered his mouth back to Elladan's.
The wizard ran forward past the confused Frodo and knelt by the cold Elf as well, tying the bandages tighter around his chest, and using his fist to pump his heart while Elrond tried to restore breath to the lifeless body of his son.
Legolas turned and ran after Elrohir, who was fleeing into the woods.
Elrohir came to a small clearing and fell to his knees, clutching his hair with slender fingers. "Why?" he screamed. "Why is this happening? Why Elladan? Why?" There was no answer from the silent forest, not even the comforting hum of the trees; they were too shocked to reply.
Elrohir bowed his head, unable to control his face as it contorted in anguish. All the feelings of the past few days built up within him: Misery, grief, rage, uncertainty, confusion…utter helplessness…
The Elf threw back his head and screamed, screamed at the injustice of the world he lived in…at the world that would dare kill Elladan! Didn't the Fates know that he deserved to live? More than anyone else? Elladan…Elladan had been far worthier of life than many! The Fates were horribly and utterly wrong!
The trees shuddered at the unearthly, hollow sound of the scream that came from Elrond's youngest son. Elrohir ran out of breath, and he slowly let his cry of anguish fade. It had done nothing to relieve his tormented soul, nothing. Those who said crying helped were mistaken…but even as this thought passed through Elrohir's mind, he fell to his side, weeping bitterly.
Legolas winced when Elrohir's scream reached his ears, and he ran faster, desperate to reach his friend before anything else happened. The scream faded, and was replaced with sobs, heart wrenching, broken, confused…lost…
The archer finally stumbled upon the clearing where Elrohir lay, and saw the Elf laying on his side. Legolas ran forward to his friend, desperate to keep him within the mortal realm for only a few moments longer.
Elrohir whimpered in fear, thousands of thoughts flashing through his head. They were mixed, jumbled, and not a single one was distinguishable from the other—except…
No! Legolas didn't do it! He didn't mean to!
It was Legolas it was Legolas it was Legolas it was Legolas it was Legolas it was Legolas it was Legolas—
Stop it! Please! It wasn't Legolas, I know it wasn't!
It was Legolas it was Legolas it was Legolas it was Legolas it was Legolas it was Legolas it was Legolas it was Legolas it was Legolas…
It wouldn't stop. Elrohir couldn't stop the accusation from racing through his head, and gradually, he began to believe it. It was Legolas… The two thought trains synchronized, then a hand was placed on Elrohir's shoulder. The grieving Elf looked up in surprise into a pair of suffering, sapphire orbs. "Elrohir?"
Elrohir snarled at Legolas, and reached down into his boot for the hidden dagger that he always kept there. "You better run, coward," he hissed. "Because if you don't then I'm going to kill you." He rose slowly to his feet, brandishing the weapon in front of him.
Legolas slowly backed away, confusion mixing with his grief. "Elrohir…I thought you understood I didn't mean to…"
Elrohir narrowed his eyes. "I was mistaken," he growled, then flicked his wrist back, holding the dagger by its tip, took aim for Legolas's heart, and then let the weapon fly.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Can you tell I like Frodo's eyes a lot? However, I don't like Frodo himself as much as I like his eyes…I mean, yeah, I like 'im, but not as much as say, Merry and Pippin. And Legolas goes unsaid, does he not?
Okay, and before those of you with the gutter minds out there go crazy on me (I would know, I have one, and was thinking about what my reaction would be if I had been a reader to this story), this is not, may I repeat, not a slash fic of any kind. When Elrond "…[places] his lips upon those of his dead child's…" he is doing nothing more than trying to bring him back. Okay? Okay. *smiles* All good, then.
Oh, and because I know you all are going to kill me for the Elladan thing, go look at the bottom of the bio in my profile and it explains everything. *gulps and hides*
Reviews: (Warning, there are a lot of them…this thing is nearly twice the size of the chapter itself)
Hana: Ack, sorry I missed your review last time around. M'I bad. And thank your for the ending ideas—I do that all the time to authors, tell them how to end their story…usually has Legolas dying in the end, of course. But yeah…Eldacar and I spent, like, half an hour mapping this one's plot out and since I most definitely do not want to have to do that again, I think I'll stick with what I've got, heh. And it's your first torture fic?! Wow, honey, you gotta get out there and read some of the good ones. Go look at Minka's stories, for instance. Thanks for the review!
ZeroCool: *evil chuckle* I've gotten so many "Please Don't Kill Elladans!" it's not even funny…and what do I do? Ignore them! Muahahaha…or do I? And maybe you shouldn't take back your begging so quickly…because hey, in my deranged little world, do I have to let Elladan and Elrohir be in Return of the King?
Fairylady: Elves are very good with words—I mean, they sit around for hours and think of songs for crying out loud!
LanierShazar: Meh, they didn't. At least—*glances back at them, where they sit playing a game of Egyptian Rat Race that Jarlaxle is easily winning* I'm pretty sure they didn't. They had a game of War and Jarlaxle won—of course—and as he's the most evil, Elladan wasn't gonna live for long.
Jennie: *snarl* Haldir didn't have to die. In fact, he wasn't supposed to! *glares in Peter Jackson's general direction* I love the guy for bringing Lord of the Rings to live but, he went too far with the Elves at Helm's Deep thing and the Arwen thing and the FARAMIR thing and—oh…wait…I'm ranting, aren't I. *bow* I apologize.
Sake Girl Duelist: I think when I told you it was "finished" I hadn't quite loaded it yet, because I only uploaded it yesterday. So what I meant was that I had finished it, but still had to edit and reply to reviews and the like, and I procrastinated on those. Sorry for any confusion.
Valimalirit: *indifferent shrug* Meh, the Beatles are okay. I was pushed away from them for a long time, though, when I heard too much of them, because all my friends really like them…and used to play them constantly. So after I overcame that gap and started to like them, I discovered that I really liked the Harrison songs, so I read two George biographies, and now he's my favorite! *sings* While my guitar gently weeps…
Jilla kala: Angst is the best. I just don't understand that spend their entire lives writing pointless humor. I mean, of course there is some humor that I like (Read stuff by Treehugger), but some of it is just plain stupid. I'm rambling, aren't I. Ack, sorry!
Imirie: Which Romeo and Juliet movie? The one with Leonardo DiCaprio(sp) in it? *swoon* I love that movie and all those people in it…*realizes she's acting very OOC* *cough* ANYways…:-D I'm glad you liked the part where Legolas collapsed. I liked it, of course, but I wasn't sure if readers would find it plausible. Thank you!
Emmithar: Hope you're better, but obviously you must be, because then you wouldn't be telling me that you were sick…so, glad that you are better! Also glad that the fight with your friends is over, because those always suck. Except that I'm normally one of the ones on either side, because I take offense easily and am very hot-headed. Kinda like Elrohir at the moment, but hey, he has an excuse.
Andmetwen/Brittney: Hey! You got a bio! *high five* Now all you need to do is put up that Legolas story you're constantly talking about…
Celebwen Starmaiden: Here it is! Here it is! Don't turn me into a typing Orc, please please pleeeeeeeeease!!!!! *whine* I don't wanna be a typing Orc!
Sheleigh: Yes, the Legolas getting abused by Thranduil can get a smidgen old. *seeth* I normally don't mind character quirks, but when it comes to one of my favorites… And I think Elrohir is insane just because his brother is hurt. *chuckle* Your name still reminds me of "Her." Every time I type it, pictures of Frodo while he's—well, you know. ;);)
Kaimelieaman: …your teacher is pregnant? Ah. Then I could see the difficulties there. My first introduction was with my second favorite teacher of all time. (You know, I just realized this…all the guy teachers I have end up being my favorites—except for that one I hated—and not because I get crushes or anything…some of them are old old old! I wonder if males are just better at teaching?) Wow…I got off track there. Anywho, maybe when your teacher has her baby she will be out for awhile, and then you can get a good teacher. *smiles*
Anya Dvorak: (Wow…okay…you've, like, the first name that my spellchecker hasn't screamed at me about…what does "Dvorak" mean?) And about my self-defeating comments, I only say them when I really think them. I think it comes from having my best friend being an editor, so I'm never fully quite satisfied. ((*winks at both eyes at Sabbrielle*: of course, neither are you…)) Sorry…ignore that…inside joke type thing. Thank you for reviewing!
Beautifully Twisted: Ah, okay. *chuckle* A "fangirly" reviewer? That's a new one… And yes, you should post one of your Elf torture fics!! I would love to read it!
Su: *laugh* I remember when for the first time someone responded to a review of mine…I immediately went and reviewed each and every chapter in hopes that I would get responded to, and I soon figured out that she responded to everybody…so knowing how special it usually makes one feel, I respond to all of my reviews, even if it means that the chapter takes slightly longer to be put out. *bow* Thank you muchlies for the review! (Muchlies…hey…I like that word!)
Karina: Don't worry about it…I forget to review most chapters of the fics that I read…heh…. And wow, you captured the emotions of all the characters perfectly within your review, what you said about how they were feeling. And yes, Eldacar did add some nice touches…
EMerald QUeen: *whispers to Midnight* //here…take this box of cookies since EMQU won't give you any…don't tell her I gave them to you! And don't worry, Girl Scouts are coming in today, so I'll have more!// *pats Midnight on the head and hugs her* *stands up straight and turns to EMQU* I've grown rather fond of your little muse…pleeeease don't kill 'er! And it doesn't sound weird for you to feel sorry for Elrohir. I made myself teary while I was writing this…but that's because what really makes me sad is when others grieve for the one who's hurt, not when the one being hurt is hurt—if that makes sense? Anywho, you're very very right about Brethil…I would have screamed but for the fact that it would have gotten me in so much trouble. I was, however, shaking and muttering curses rapidly under my breath. *seeth* It makes me sad when I think of Brethil dying, extremely sad! Which is actually saying something for me… Hey, where did you get the name Saffron? I keep meaning to ask, 'cause my pater makes a dish we fondly call "yellow rice" but its proper name is "Saffron rice" because of the spice that's used to create it. It costs something like $130 per ounce, or some insanely high price like that. And we're almost out, sigh. The saffron that my pater uses he got from his grandma, too, believe it or not. Isn't that cool? He got he recipe from her, too. She lived in an Amish neighborhood or something like that and they weren't allowed to give her the recipe, but then she was gonna move away and they did give her the recipe and it's a family favorite—*halts* *flush* Um…looks like you're not the only one who is suffering from Brethilitis at the moment…heh…
X Moonchik: No problem, but of course, I have trouble with names too. So don't trust me too much, ler. And although Legolas and Elrohir did make up…it didn't last for long…I'm so evil…
Phoenix Lioncourt: Hey, you looked to be correct! And heh…sorry about Legolas and Elrohir fighting again…know you don't like it, but hey, that's what the muses decided. *shrug*
LegolasLover2003: Do you absolutely hate all the other character's whenever they block Legolas from sight? Like when Theoden's head gets in the way right after Grima escapes and stuff like that…Heh, I know that I do. I also thought it would be fitting for Legolas to cry right there—of course—but for more reasons that just the whole spell hurting Elladan thing…I thought the insults against his mother would have been "the straw that broke the camel's back" so to speak. *shrug*
Another hapless Frodo fangirl: Did you like this chapter? With the Frodo eye thing? And I still don't quite understand why you don't like Legolas, but oh well. Each to her own, I suppose.
Witchmaster: You're very right; it's a lot better to get critiqued than complimented sometimes (unless your ego needs a boost). *bow* I'm very glad you liked that chapter—to receive praise from one who is willing to insult is probably one of the best things there is. (Oh, and, in your reviews for Taken in Moria, you asked what The Dark Elf Trilogy was…it's a book by R. A. Salvatore (trilogy, really) and it is really good…two of my favorite fantasy characters come from that book, and if you ever get the chance, you should read it!)
Criket: Obviously my muses thought I should kill Elladan off, lol. At least the one who won the game of cards.
Invader Iggle: Well, it did let you submit. Obviously. *chuckle* You remind me of when my best friend gets on a sugar-, or even worse, flame-high. And I also don't understand how someone could do without Fanfiction.Net for more than several days. I find myself wondering what I did in the many years before I found this place…
Gwyn: Thranduil is awesome in no matter what chapter you put him in, that's all I have to say. He was quite obviously Legolas's hero, though. ;);)
Leap of Fate: *cheers* No more Astaldar house calls! *pout* I want a BK Legolas action figure! *whine* Mommy, it's not fair! Some kids get everything! Humph. Good luck on your laptop problems, though!
The grim reaper: PETE it is, then. *bow* So sorry about the earlier mistake! *cheers for his jumping off a pen trick* Anywho, Reaper, get better soon, take your cough medicine, be nice you your twin…yadda yadda blah blah blah…can't really think of anything to say, lol
Eldacar: *is still searching for that review* Don't worry—I will find it sooner or later! And then I will find a way around it. *might be asking for Jarlaxle's help sometime soon…*
IluvLegolas: *chuckle* You have a very interest—but true—screen name. :-D *feels special every time someone says this made them cry* No, I'm not that morbid…trying to spread sadness and misery throughout humanity—I just understand the "I never cry" thing…so yeah. Thanks for the review!
Sakura and Yugi-chan: There, there…I'm sure your account will soon be fixed. :-) Fanfiction.Net keeps telling me that I don't even exist, lol. Can't wait to read your Lord of the Rings story!
Goma-Ryu: It didn't leave your name out this time! :-D You certainly are full of questions today…questions that, I'm sorry, can't be answered or else they would be spoilers, probably. Or at least they would be spoilers once Brethilitis got a hold of me…
Nessie: Well, not, it wasn't quite since chapter one…but welcome back! Lol, I remember you. "While the Ring Went South," huh? *will have to go read that* Anywho, don't worry about not reviewing. I do a rotten job of that myself, truth be told, heh.
Allyson Potter: Lol, I'm so boy-crazy…it's all my friend's fault, it is! Anywho, he sounds nice. *forms a nice picture in head* As long as he has a sweet personality, that's the good thing.
Mercuria: *wail* The highlight of my day is destroyed! I look forward to the story within a reviews! But anywho, about the Elrohir thing. Several people told me that they thought I was overplaying Thranduil's grief, while I felt I was underplaying it—because of first hand experience of seeing a parent have a child die (It's actually one of the main reasons I use to explain why I'm so morbid). And then with the twin thing…for three years, my two best friends' were twins. Not with each other, of course. So my four closest friends were twins. And I've seen how mad one gets when you simply insult the other…so yeah. I don't think that Elrohir is being overemotional at all.
HALDIRSBUD: (I feel like I'm yelling at your or something, lol) I would IM you, perhaps, but the problem is, I have a hard time carrying on online conversations because I'm always doing something else (ex: writing, reading fanfiction). So anyways, thank you for the review!
Firestar: I'm glad your computer is okay, lol. I would die without a computer, I swear I would. *shakes head* Ai, girl, there are better torture fics out there! "Shadows Amongst the Leaves," and then perhaps stuff by Minka. Not mine, lol.
Lanfear: You're in band? What instrument do you play? I'm in the school Orchestra, so yeah, I tend to be curious about musical things. And I understand perfectly how tiring a concert can be…although I'm not in marching band or anything so I can't talk for that.
Estel Elendil: No, no, it's okay, it's not a sin to not review, lol! Of course Legolas is going to have guilt, that's the point! Lol. Legolas actually does feel really guilty at the moment, but he's forcing himself to wait until he's away from others to actually show that guilt, I suppose.
Karone Evertree: I like the surname! It really is quite pretty.
Karone: Her name was Ithilin with a little ^ over the last I, I think. Don't worry, I know how it is with the symbols…they are really annoying, aren't they? And about the curse thing…I don't exactly know if it's the worst threat, but, hey, I took a creative license, you know? So yes. You're looking for an elvish name…hmm…well, my name (Lisseyelen with the dots of the first E) is in Quenya and it means "sweet star." Took me months to remember how to spell it, lol. ANYwho, some good sites. This: is a Quenya site. This: is a Sindar site that gets reloaded at 7:00pm US Atlantic Time. (It only allows 800 uses per day, and the "day" starts over at 7:00pm on the US East Coast) The uses get used up pretty fast, so hurry and get there. This: is for Sindar and Quenya, and the one I've found myself using perhaps the most recently, along with a word document I got from somewhere. Hope that helps, congratulations on becoming an author!
FlameRaven: If you're still reading this, thanks much for the compliment in the reviews for Taken in Moria!
*is happy* In the next several chapters, I'll be starting on the rest of the story…whee!