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In Times of Trouble
Scribbles-on-Parchment
December 18, 2021
Chapter 19 – Night Falls
Elrohir could not help but let a wide grin spread over his face, despite the pain in his ribs and neck. The eldar had recognized the voice and weight of his attacker instantly. As soon as the voice had growled that question into his ear, he had instantly allowed himself to go limp. Sensing his victory, the being on top of him had released his grip on Elrohir's hair and had adjusted his weight.
This was all that the Noldo needed.
Twisting his body to the side, Elrohir was able to grab onto his attacker's boot. In an instant, he had yanked the leg out from under the being. The attacker lost his balance at the sudden retaliation and crashed heavily into the ground where he lay groaning. Before he even had time to catch his breath again, Elrohir was on top of the being, grinning broadly. He reached out to grab a handful of the dark locks on his attacker's head as he said,
"You need to work on not letting your guard down. Did you just expect me to lay still and accept defeat?"
"And you need to work on losing weight. I thought elves were supposed to be light. You weigh as much as a horse."
Elrohir let out a light laugh, "Then you, toron, must weigh as much as seven horses. Truly my back aches from when you jumped on top of me. Was that truly necessary?"
Estel rolled his eyes as he arched his back in a vain attempt to throw off the eldar's weight.
"Though I must admit," Elrohir continued, unaffected by the man's feeble escape attempts, "You did catch me off guard. How did you manage to come up behind me undetected?"
"Well, despite what you say I can move quietly when I wish. And besides," Estel said, giving up on his attempted escape, "You were cursing loud enough to wake the dead. What made you so irritated?"
The Noldo shook his head before leaping lightly to his feet.
"You."
"Me? What about me?"
"You were irritating me. I have been searching for you all morning. My task was to track you down and bring you home."
"Then your skills are growing stale with lack of practice, toron," Estel said, getting slowly to his feet, "For I believe that it was, in fact, me who tracked you down."
Elrohir swatted at the young edan's head.
"It does not matter who tracked who down, for we are together now, are we not? Now come and let us get going. I want to be back by nightfall so we must hurry."
"No."
Elrohir closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm his rising temper as his brother continued,
"You know the reason that I go to Mirkwood. You know why they have to be at least warned of the trouble that is brewing in Imladris. If I can help stop this, then I will. Even you cannot stop me this time."
"And what if I tell you, that you have no choice?" Elrohir crossed his arms over his chest as he spoke, "You know ada will not allow open war between the two realms. You know he will never just let it happen. Think about it for just a second. You are being irrational."
"And you are not listening to me!"
Both brothers now stood facing one another, each unwilling to accept his defeat.
"Elrohir," Estel continued, "You have to let me do this. I want to feel like I can do something important. I have no wish to stay trapped in Imladris forever, watching the council members pressure ada. Already they have found a way around his authority. The elves in Mirkwood have to be warned that there are dark elves seeking their destruction. They serve to know what is happening. Is it your place to keep this news from them?"
"Nay. I understand that you feel this is right but pause for a moment and think about what Thranduil will do if you were to even make it to his forest. Think about what he would say when he hears news that there is an army of dark Noldorin elves seeking to engage in war against him. He will think it ada's fault and he will seek his revenge. If I let you do this, then I am allowing you to make this situation worse than it already is."
Elrohir paused as he saw edan's gray eyes fill with a strange longing even as Estel said,
"I know that you do not think it is a good idea by any means, but you cannot change my path. My mind is made. There is evil about - a dark force that has an agenda all of its own. I know that ada knows of this for I have heard him speaking to Glorfindel of packs of wargs along the borders and whispers among those on patrol. There is something more going on here than just unhappy ellyn. Something is about to happen and it is going to strike hard at the elves in Mirkwood."
"How do you know this?"
Estel's eyes hardened, "I just know. Something is going to happen to the elves there or perhaps already has."
Elrohir understood immediately.
"This is about Prince Legolas, is it not?" he watched the human closely as he said this, "You have not seen him in five years, Estel. No doubt he has already forgotten about you. My advice to you is to leave him be. Let him live his life in peace with his people. I am sure he is perfectly fine."
Estel glared hard at the Noldo as he repeated,
"There is something wrong. Maer is in trouble and I know it. Do you know why I left last night? I heard him calling out to me from a dream. He was trapped in great darkness. He was trapped and alone and…"
"And it is none of your concern," Elrohir said this time reaching out to grab the young human's arm, "Now come, we must get home. This matter is not up for debate any longer. Where is your horse?"
But even as the ellon asked this, a shrill whinny rang out through the air causing both brothers to spin around. There through the waving grass and branches, they saw three large black shapes circling quietly around Elrohir's mare. The horse was neighing and pawing at the ground frantically, clearly at a loss of what to do. Estel felt his brother grab his arm tightly as the elf breathed,
"Wargs."
As the word left his lips, the first of the dark beasts let out a loud growl. It pounced onto the poor horse, ripping its fangs into the mare's neck. In an instant, the other two wargs followed suit, enticed by the smell of fresh blood. It took only a second longer for the faithful beast to be lost under a mass of dark bodies.
Estel felt the Noldo's grip on his bicep tighten as the eldar watched his horse be brought down and slaughtered by the evil creatures, never to rise again. The young human felt a pang of regret and had to resist the urge to grab for his sword and race out there to defend the mare, but he knew it was already too late. Plus, there was little he would be able to do against three hungry wargs that stood at the same height as he.
"Where is your horse?" Elrohir said through gritted teeth, "We need to go now."
Elladan frowned as he watched the afternoon patrol preparing to leave. He had been waiting at the gate for over two hours now, expecting his twin to come riding through at any moment, followed closely by a remorseful Estel. Yet there was, as of yet, no sign of them. The path beyond remained empty and still. What in Eru's name was taking them so long? Surly Estel had not managed to get that far?
"Still no sign of them?"
Elladan shook his head at Glorfindel's question. The elda had been coming to check on him occasionally since he had set up his watch. Clearly, Glorfindel was also anxious to see the wayward brothers return.
"Nay. I do not understand what is keeping them so long. Though as the sun is falling lower and lower in the sky, I must admit that I begin to worry about them."
Elladan turned to look at his ada's commander as he said this. He was surprised to see the elf was dressed in the typical brown and blue garb of a patrol member.
"Are you going out on patrol? I did not think you did such a thing anymore."
"And I did not think you that observant," Glorfindel laid a hand on the hilt of his blade, "Yet I have spoken to your ada of my concerns and he has agreed that this would be for the better if I were to accompany this patrol."
"Concerns of what?" Elladan felt his heart skip a beat, "Of Elrohir and Estel?"
"Perhaps. I merely wish to ensure their safety back to Imladris. More warg tracks were spotted along the border this morning which is another reason why I go. As commander of Lord Elrond's army, I wish to see what kind of threat we are facing."
"Then I shall come with you," Elladan crossed his arms over his chest, "If there is concern being raised about the wellbeing of my brothers than I would be the first to volunteer to go out in search of them," Glorfindel opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off almost instantly by the Noldorin twin, "And if you deny me this right, then I shall go to my ada and speak with him of the matter."
The commander simply shook his head,
"I never said you would not be coming. Had you had patience then you would have heard me say that my Lord Elrond has recommended that you join this patrol. You know the minds of your brothers better than most and if something should have happened, your skills could come invaluable."
Elladan felt his heart quicken. He knew that skills Glorfindel spoke of – healing. If his ada thought it best to have a healer accompany the patrol, then what had he assumed had happened to his brothers?
"We leave within the hour, Elrondion. You will find the suitable clothing already in your chambers."
The Noldorin twin watched the great elven general walk away towards the stables before he hurried away to prepare for the patrol. As he walked quickly towards his chambers a million awful situations entered his head of what could have happened to his brothers. All Elladan could do was pray that whatever delayed the two from returning would prove to not be deadly. Neither of his brothers had left prepared for a warg or even yrch attack.
As the eldest son of Elrond moved away from his watch at the front gate, a shadowed and cloaked figure moved out from the shadows of the nearby armory. The elda moved quietly and swiftly towards the open gates all, his eyes scanning to make sure no one was about. In an instant, the figure slipped out onto the path beyond. A second later he was gone disappearing into the shadows that lined the rock pathway.
Elvish Translations:
ada – dad
yrch - orcs