A/N: Okay, I wasn't going to post another chapter yet, but I couldn't just
leave them like that, so here you go. Thanks for the absolutely wonderful
reviews!! Now, the bad news. This story is drawing to a close, and there
will probably only be two or three more parts after this one. So, the
question begs to be asked: Does anyone want an NC-17 part? Maybe as an
Epilogue or something not necessary to the story? Let me know!
Part 21:
"Mornel is not in the stables," Elrohir said as he stormed into the library.
Elrond looked up from where he stood next to Legolas's chair. Legolas had his head buried in his hands as tears still streamed down his face. Elrohir gathered up an extra cloak from where it was casually hung over a chair. He bundled it up and threw it into the satchel he carried.
"Where do you think you're going?" Elrond asked his younger son.
"I'm going after him," Elrohir said firmly. "The ford is flooding, and he will be in danger if he tries to cross it."
"I will come also," Legolas said, standing.
Elrond pushed him back down. "No, you will not. You are not in the state of mind to be going after Elladan, and I will not have two distraught Elves chasing each other across the valley!"
Elrohir paused. His father was as close to anger as he had ever seen him, though he held his emotions in check with the practice of a warrior of the battlefield. "Glorfindel will go with me," he said, hoping to allay at least some of their fears along with his own. "There are only two roads out of Imladris, and I believe Glorfindel and I have the best chances of bringing Elladan back without using force."
"So be it," Elrond said. He grasped his son's shoulder, forcing him to look him in the eyes. "I shall wait here, in case he returns before you do. Be careful."
"I will, Father," Elrohir promised before he raced back to the stables.
Glorfindel was waiting for Elrohir at the stables, holding his grey mare. She pranced at the end of her lead, knowing that speed would be of the essence and more than up to the challenge. Elrohir mounted her and he and Glorfindel headed towards the stone bridge.
"If he was truly trying to leave the valley, he would either go west to the Ford or east to the High Pass," Glorfindel reasoned.
Elrohir considered the options. He did not believe that Elladan would venture east, towards Mirkwood. "I will take the Ford," he said, wheeling his mare away before Glorfindel could protest.
He turned to see Asfaloth disappear across the bridge in the opposite direction and he spurred his mare on. It was a difficult ride, for though the night was clear the passes of the mountains were treacherous. Elrohir and his mare had both been born and raised in the valley and they knew every stone of the path by heart. He only hoped that Mornel would be slower on the paths and spare him the precious time he needed to close the distance.
Elladan allowed Mornel to choose their path as they followed the winding river. He admitted that he did not know where he thought he would ride to, but just being out under the stars had already cleared his head. They had crossed the river at a shallow point, but it was flooded with the ice-cold runoff from the mountains, and he was searching for a place to cross back. He mused that it would not be so bad if he was forced to wait until morning to cross again.
He shifted on Mornel's back, trying to relieve the stiffness he felt. It had been far too long since he was on the back of a horse, and the slight fall in his chambers left him bruised. The chill air eased the burning in his shoulders as the breeze caressed his bare skin—he had forgotten a cloak or even a tunic in his haste, but he did not feel the cold as keenly as a Man would.
Mornel stopped and whinnied sharply. "What is it, boy? Have you found a place to cross?" Elladan asked.
He peered into the dark water, but he could tell that it ran swift and deep at this part. The opposite bank was too sheer for a horse to climb, anyway. He was about to urge Mornel on when he heard the sound of hoof beats above the roar of the river. He stayed still and quiet, trusting Mornel who had his ears pricked forward in attention to warn him of enemies.
"Elladan!" a voice cried out in the darkness.
"Elrohir?" Elladan called back. Elrohir became visible on the edge of the bank, his grey mare pale in the moonlight. "What are you doing?"
"Looking for you, brother," Elrohir said. "The Ford is not safe to cross."
"I know that, you fool! I am looking for a way back across the river. I crossed it some distance south of here, but it has flooded even more since," Elladan said in annoyance.
"I thought you had run away…" Elladan could barely hear his brother's voice across the water.
"No. I needed to be alone," Elladan said. "Now, go home and I will be there when I find my way back across, though it may be morn before then."
"I will follow you down the river until you find a place to cross," his brother responded. He turned his mare in the direction that Mornel was headed, but he did not see the end of the embankment in his haste.
"Elrohir, CAREFUL!" Elladan called out the warning, but it was too late. The mare slipped on the smooth rock and horse and rider tumbled into the raging water below.
"Elrohir!" Elladan exclaimed as he watched the river pull his brother down.
Elladan spurred Mornel on, riding beside the swiftly moving waters until he saw the grey horse appear again above the surface. The opposite bank evened out and she was able to pull herself from the water. Elrohir was not on her back. Elladan pulled Mornel up and cast his eyes above the water. Elrohir was a strong swimmer, but no Elf could fight the mighty Bruinen at full flow, and the water was as cold as ice.
His eyes caught Elrohir fighting for the surface, unable to call out before being dragged down again. Without thinking, Elladan urged Mornel into the water. The black horse plunged in and the icy water hit Elladan with a shock, ripping the breath from his lungs. He felt paralyzed as the water tore him from Mornel's back, but the thought that he had to find his brother was above all concerns for his own safety. He pulled himself through the water with sure strokes, though his arms burned from the effort of fighting the current. Suddenly, his hand closed around an arm and he held on for dear life. Elrohir bobbed to the surface and the brothers clung to each other as the river swept them away.
Elladan tried to swim to the shore, but he was not strong enough to pull both his and his brother's weight. He heard the shrill whinny of a horse and saw Elrohir's mare prancing on the other side of the river in distress. She was too small to help, her limbs built for speed rather than power. It was all Elladan could do to gulp in air when he could and try to hold his brother's head above the water.
Elladan felt himself tiring and he knew that he could not fight for much longer. Elrohir was nearly unconscious in his arms, dead weight dragging them down. It would be easy to let go and let himself drown, he thought. It would solve so many problems, and he and Elrohir would still be together, even if it was in the Halls of Mandos.
A great splash brought him out of his daze and his view was suddenly blocked by a giant dark shape. Mornel! It was Mornel! With a final effort, Elladan wrapped one arm firmly around Elrohir's waist and cast out with his other toward the dark shape. His hand found the thick, flowing mane and he held on tight. He felt as the stallion's might alone towed them to the shore. With a strong plunge forward, Mornel broke the water and dragged the two Elves onto the bank. Elladan's grasp broke and he fell hard to the ground, spluttering and gulping air. Immediately he turned to his brother. Elrohir was unconscious and Elladan could not detect his breathing. Quickly, he rolled Elrohir onto his back and leaned his weight against him, forcing the water out of his lungs.
"Elrohir?! Elrohir, wake up!" he growled. "You mad little Elf, wake up or else I'm going to tell Glorfindel how you really feel about him!"
Elladan was rewarded by Elrohir's body convulsing as he coughed and vomited up the water. He lay gasping and shivering on the ground as Elladan collapsed beside him, exhausted.
"Elladan?" Elrohir wheezed painfully.
"I'm here," Elladan said, his brother's voice bringing him back to the present. He levered himself to his feet. He knew that he had to get Elrohir out of his soaked clothes before he froze to death. "Lay still," he told his brother, shifting him into a more comfortable position on the ground.
Elladan whistled and Elrohir's mare trotted up to him nervously. She calmed as soon as she saw that Elrohir was apparently unharmed. Elladan untied the waterproof saddlebags she carried and rummaged through them. He came up with a soft woolen blanket and an extra cloak that were mostly dry. He efficiently stripped Elrohir of his cloak and tunic and bundled him in the cloak and blanket.
"Aren't you cold?" Elrohir asked through chattering teeth.
"I was not in the water for as long, and I was not wearing heavy garments as you were," Elladan reasoned.
"You are hardly wearing garments at all!" Elrohir quipped before another coughing fit took him.
Elladan rubbed his brother's back. "I left in a bit of a rush," he admitted. "Though I do not regret it now, as I am already dry! Now, are you ready to go home?"
"More than ready," Elrohir replied. "Father is worried sick, and Legolas is torn apart by your sudden departure."
Elladan did not answer. He helped Elrohir onto Mornel who was standing guard over the two Elves and the little mare. He mounted in front of Elrohir, allowing his brother to wrap the blanket around them both.
"Home, Mornel," he instructed, whistling for the mare to follow.
Elrohir swayed behind him, though he had his arms wrapped tightly around Elladan's waist. Elladan clasped his brother's hand in one hand, keeping a grip on Mornel's mane with the other. Gradually, Elrohir's shivering subsided, though tiredness took its place. He laid his head on Elladan's shoulder, letting his thoughts wander. He could clearly see his brother's scars as the crossed his bare back. The pale lines shined almost silver in the moonlight. They were deep wounds, to leave such scars on an Elf, Elrohir thought. Still, they seemed pretty to his befuddled mind, like ribbons of white silk strung across his skin.
"What are you thinking?" Elladan asked, trying to keep Elrohir awake and alert. He had no idea of what kind of danger his brother might still be in.
"You're beautiful," Elrohir answered, his voice soft next to Elladan's ear.
"You think so?" Elladan chuckled. "Well I *am* your identical twin. Try to stay awake now, brother. Tell me of Glorfindel. How beautiful do you find him?"
"Nay," Elrohir countered. "Tell me of Legolas and I will stay awake well enough."
Elladan sighed. "I did not mean to frighten everyone so," he said. "I would not have run away; I merely needed some time alone tonight. Ai! Why must I so hurt the ones I love?"
"We know you love us," Elrohir said. "Even if you do not act like it."
Elladan knew his brother was jesting, as he could feel his smile against his shoulder. He nudged him with his elbow. "You are a brat. Now, stay awake."
"Tell me of Legolas then!" Elrohir repeated.
"I fear I have I hurt him too much this time. It is not his fault that I am not as strong as I used to be."
"You speak of strength, but was it not you who just hauled me out of the river after my own folly?" Elrohir asked, suddenly alert. "You are far stronger than you believe and your spirit shines brighter than ever before." He was tired once again and laid his head back down on his brother's shoulder. Elladan could feel the brush of his eyelashes when he blinked and the warmth of his breath on his neck. "It was easy to find you; I need only follow the light."
Elladan sighed as he felt Elrohir drifting off again. He chafed his hands through the cloak. "Wake up, Elrohir. One more bridge and then we are home."
Part 21:
"Mornel is not in the stables," Elrohir said as he stormed into the library.
Elrond looked up from where he stood next to Legolas's chair. Legolas had his head buried in his hands as tears still streamed down his face. Elrohir gathered up an extra cloak from where it was casually hung over a chair. He bundled it up and threw it into the satchel he carried.
"Where do you think you're going?" Elrond asked his younger son.
"I'm going after him," Elrohir said firmly. "The ford is flooding, and he will be in danger if he tries to cross it."
"I will come also," Legolas said, standing.
Elrond pushed him back down. "No, you will not. You are not in the state of mind to be going after Elladan, and I will not have two distraught Elves chasing each other across the valley!"
Elrohir paused. His father was as close to anger as he had ever seen him, though he held his emotions in check with the practice of a warrior of the battlefield. "Glorfindel will go with me," he said, hoping to allay at least some of their fears along with his own. "There are only two roads out of Imladris, and I believe Glorfindel and I have the best chances of bringing Elladan back without using force."
"So be it," Elrond said. He grasped his son's shoulder, forcing him to look him in the eyes. "I shall wait here, in case he returns before you do. Be careful."
"I will, Father," Elrohir promised before he raced back to the stables.
Glorfindel was waiting for Elrohir at the stables, holding his grey mare. She pranced at the end of her lead, knowing that speed would be of the essence and more than up to the challenge. Elrohir mounted her and he and Glorfindel headed towards the stone bridge.
"If he was truly trying to leave the valley, he would either go west to the Ford or east to the High Pass," Glorfindel reasoned.
Elrohir considered the options. He did not believe that Elladan would venture east, towards Mirkwood. "I will take the Ford," he said, wheeling his mare away before Glorfindel could protest.
He turned to see Asfaloth disappear across the bridge in the opposite direction and he spurred his mare on. It was a difficult ride, for though the night was clear the passes of the mountains were treacherous. Elrohir and his mare had both been born and raised in the valley and they knew every stone of the path by heart. He only hoped that Mornel would be slower on the paths and spare him the precious time he needed to close the distance.
Elladan allowed Mornel to choose their path as they followed the winding river. He admitted that he did not know where he thought he would ride to, but just being out under the stars had already cleared his head. They had crossed the river at a shallow point, but it was flooded with the ice-cold runoff from the mountains, and he was searching for a place to cross back. He mused that it would not be so bad if he was forced to wait until morning to cross again.
He shifted on Mornel's back, trying to relieve the stiffness he felt. It had been far too long since he was on the back of a horse, and the slight fall in his chambers left him bruised. The chill air eased the burning in his shoulders as the breeze caressed his bare skin—he had forgotten a cloak or even a tunic in his haste, but he did not feel the cold as keenly as a Man would.
Mornel stopped and whinnied sharply. "What is it, boy? Have you found a place to cross?" Elladan asked.
He peered into the dark water, but he could tell that it ran swift and deep at this part. The opposite bank was too sheer for a horse to climb, anyway. He was about to urge Mornel on when he heard the sound of hoof beats above the roar of the river. He stayed still and quiet, trusting Mornel who had his ears pricked forward in attention to warn him of enemies.
"Elladan!" a voice cried out in the darkness.
"Elrohir?" Elladan called back. Elrohir became visible on the edge of the bank, his grey mare pale in the moonlight. "What are you doing?"
"Looking for you, brother," Elrohir said. "The Ford is not safe to cross."
"I know that, you fool! I am looking for a way back across the river. I crossed it some distance south of here, but it has flooded even more since," Elladan said in annoyance.
"I thought you had run away…" Elladan could barely hear his brother's voice across the water.
"No. I needed to be alone," Elladan said. "Now, go home and I will be there when I find my way back across, though it may be morn before then."
"I will follow you down the river until you find a place to cross," his brother responded. He turned his mare in the direction that Mornel was headed, but he did not see the end of the embankment in his haste.
"Elrohir, CAREFUL!" Elladan called out the warning, but it was too late. The mare slipped on the smooth rock and horse and rider tumbled into the raging water below.
"Elrohir!" Elladan exclaimed as he watched the river pull his brother down.
Elladan spurred Mornel on, riding beside the swiftly moving waters until he saw the grey horse appear again above the surface. The opposite bank evened out and she was able to pull herself from the water. Elrohir was not on her back. Elladan pulled Mornel up and cast his eyes above the water. Elrohir was a strong swimmer, but no Elf could fight the mighty Bruinen at full flow, and the water was as cold as ice.
His eyes caught Elrohir fighting for the surface, unable to call out before being dragged down again. Without thinking, Elladan urged Mornel into the water. The black horse plunged in and the icy water hit Elladan with a shock, ripping the breath from his lungs. He felt paralyzed as the water tore him from Mornel's back, but the thought that he had to find his brother was above all concerns for his own safety. He pulled himself through the water with sure strokes, though his arms burned from the effort of fighting the current. Suddenly, his hand closed around an arm and he held on for dear life. Elrohir bobbed to the surface and the brothers clung to each other as the river swept them away.
Elladan tried to swim to the shore, but he was not strong enough to pull both his and his brother's weight. He heard the shrill whinny of a horse and saw Elrohir's mare prancing on the other side of the river in distress. She was too small to help, her limbs built for speed rather than power. It was all Elladan could do to gulp in air when he could and try to hold his brother's head above the water.
Elladan felt himself tiring and he knew that he could not fight for much longer. Elrohir was nearly unconscious in his arms, dead weight dragging them down. It would be easy to let go and let himself drown, he thought. It would solve so many problems, and he and Elrohir would still be together, even if it was in the Halls of Mandos.
A great splash brought him out of his daze and his view was suddenly blocked by a giant dark shape. Mornel! It was Mornel! With a final effort, Elladan wrapped one arm firmly around Elrohir's waist and cast out with his other toward the dark shape. His hand found the thick, flowing mane and he held on tight. He felt as the stallion's might alone towed them to the shore. With a strong plunge forward, Mornel broke the water and dragged the two Elves onto the bank. Elladan's grasp broke and he fell hard to the ground, spluttering and gulping air. Immediately he turned to his brother. Elrohir was unconscious and Elladan could not detect his breathing. Quickly, he rolled Elrohir onto his back and leaned his weight against him, forcing the water out of his lungs.
"Elrohir?! Elrohir, wake up!" he growled. "You mad little Elf, wake up or else I'm going to tell Glorfindel how you really feel about him!"
Elladan was rewarded by Elrohir's body convulsing as he coughed and vomited up the water. He lay gasping and shivering on the ground as Elladan collapsed beside him, exhausted.
"Elladan?" Elrohir wheezed painfully.
"I'm here," Elladan said, his brother's voice bringing him back to the present. He levered himself to his feet. He knew that he had to get Elrohir out of his soaked clothes before he froze to death. "Lay still," he told his brother, shifting him into a more comfortable position on the ground.
Elladan whistled and Elrohir's mare trotted up to him nervously. She calmed as soon as she saw that Elrohir was apparently unharmed. Elladan untied the waterproof saddlebags she carried and rummaged through them. He came up with a soft woolen blanket and an extra cloak that were mostly dry. He efficiently stripped Elrohir of his cloak and tunic and bundled him in the cloak and blanket.
"Aren't you cold?" Elrohir asked through chattering teeth.
"I was not in the water for as long, and I was not wearing heavy garments as you were," Elladan reasoned.
"You are hardly wearing garments at all!" Elrohir quipped before another coughing fit took him.
Elladan rubbed his brother's back. "I left in a bit of a rush," he admitted. "Though I do not regret it now, as I am already dry! Now, are you ready to go home?"
"More than ready," Elrohir replied. "Father is worried sick, and Legolas is torn apart by your sudden departure."
Elladan did not answer. He helped Elrohir onto Mornel who was standing guard over the two Elves and the little mare. He mounted in front of Elrohir, allowing his brother to wrap the blanket around them both.
"Home, Mornel," he instructed, whistling for the mare to follow.
Elrohir swayed behind him, though he had his arms wrapped tightly around Elladan's waist. Elladan clasped his brother's hand in one hand, keeping a grip on Mornel's mane with the other. Gradually, Elrohir's shivering subsided, though tiredness took its place. He laid his head on Elladan's shoulder, letting his thoughts wander. He could clearly see his brother's scars as the crossed his bare back. The pale lines shined almost silver in the moonlight. They were deep wounds, to leave such scars on an Elf, Elrohir thought. Still, they seemed pretty to his befuddled mind, like ribbons of white silk strung across his skin.
"What are you thinking?" Elladan asked, trying to keep Elrohir awake and alert. He had no idea of what kind of danger his brother might still be in.
"You're beautiful," Elrohir answered, his voice soft next to Elladan's ear.
"You think so?" Elladan chuckled. "Well I *am* your identical twin. Try to stay awake now, brother. Tell me of Glorfindel. How beautiful do you find him?"
"Nay," Elrohir countered. "Tell me of Legolas and I will stay awake well enough."
Elladan sighed. "I did not mean to frighten everyone so," he said. "I would not have run away; I merely needed some time alone tonight. Ai! Why must I so hurt the ones I love?"
"We know you love us," Elrohir said. "Even if you do not act like it."
Elladan knew his brother was jesting, as he could feel his smile against his shoulder. He nudged him with his elbow. "You are a brat. Now, stay awake."
"Tell me of Legolas then!" Elrohir repeated.
"I fear I have I hurt him too much this time. It is not his fault that I am not as strong as I used to be."
"You speak of strength, but was it not you who just hauled me out of the river after my own folly?" Elrohir asked, suddenly alert. "You are far stronger than you believe and your spirit shines brighter than ever before." He was tired once again and laid his head back down on his brother's shoulder. Elladan could feel the brush of his eyelashes when he blinked and the warmth of his breath on his neck. "It was easy to find you; I need only follow the light."
Elladan sighed as he felt Elrohir drifting off again. He chafed his hands through the cloak. "Wake up, Elrohir. One more bridge and then we are home."
