A/N: Okay, so I think there will be only one more chapter and an epilogue
after this one and then the story is finished. I have a few vignettes
planned that follow the same "universe" as this one (my god, it just may
turn into an arc!) but I don't know when those will get out. So, if you
have been following the story and have never reviewed, you're running out
of time *hint hint*. Thanks so much for all the support!
Part 22:
Elrond sat shakily as he watched Elrohir leave the room in a flourish. He breathed deeply, trying to calm himself before facing Legolas. The blond had retreated to a chair in the corner where he huddled miserably, fear evident in his eyes. It was strange to see the Prince so afraid, for though Elrond had only known him for a short time, he always seemed to be an infallible source of strength for his sons.
"I'm sorry," the broken whisper startled Elrond with its quiet clarity. "This is my fault. I understand if you want me to leave."
Elrond's anger dissolved at the soft voice. As a healer and a father, he could not turn away such suffering, no matter what the reason. "I would at least hear what took place to cause Elladan to run away before I would pass judgment, young Prince," he said, rising from his chair and moving closer to Legolas.
Legolas nodded, trying to find his voice to speak. "I…We tried…He promised to tell me if I hurt him!" Elrond could only catch half-phrases and broken sentences, but he understood what happened.
"He isn't ready for physical contact," Elrond surmised. "But you both thought he was."
Legolas nodded. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done anything."
"Legolas," Elrond said, kneeling by the chair. He tipped Legolas's face to look him in the eyes. "He will come back, if Elrohir and Glorfindel do not find him first. Elladan would not leave the valley if he was only frightened, and I will not cast you out of my house for a simple mistake. And may I offer some advice?"
"Anything, my Lord."
"Do not tell Arwen."
Mornel's hooves clattered on the stone path to the courtyard. Elladan thought it better to bring Elrohir to the house before he saw his horse safely to the stables. However, his plans were waylaid as he saw the small congregation waiting them on the porch steps. His father looked stern, though more worried than angry, thank the Valar. He sighed gratefully when he did not see Legolas. He did not think he could face his lover yet after running away so abruptly.
"Elladan?" his father asked, coming up to catch Mornel's head. "What in the name of Elbereth happened?"
"Elrohir fell in the river, and I would not have been able to help him had it not been for Mornel," Elladan said as he handed his brother down to Elrond.
Elrond caught his younger son around the shoulders, steadying him as he swayed. "I'm not hurt, Ada," Elrohir said. "It was my own fault."
Elrond noted the blue tinge to Elrohir's lips and around his finger nails, and the slurred voice. Indeed, Elrohir was quite cold to the touch.
"Come inside quickly. We must get you both warm," he said, ushering them inside.
Elladan felt Erestor's hands on his shoulders, draping a cloak over him and rubbing his skin to warm him. Elrond swept Elrohir's feet from under him, cradling him easily to take him up the stairs.
"Please, Ada," Elrohir complained. "I can walk on my own."
"I know, but it pleases me to care for you so," Elrond said.
They arrived in Elrond's chambers where he immediately set Elrohir in the soft armchair before the fire. Erestor moved to stoke the flames and add more wood until the room was quite warm. Elrond stripped Elrohir of his wet boots and leggings, wrapping him in a soft velvet dressing gown and settling a woolen blanket around him. Erestor helped Elladan to change and sat him on the hearth as he cleaned several shallow scratches gained from the sharp rocks in the river.
"What were you doing without your tunic?" Erestor scolded, but he stopped the question as he saw Elrond shake his head.
Elladan let the question pass, but he closed his eyes for a moment. Elrond placed a glass of miruvor in his hands and Elladan caught his hand before he could withdraw. "I'm sorry, Ada. I did not mean to cause such uproar in the house. I needed air and space to think, but I was wrong to leave so quickly without telling anyone my intentions."
Elrond smoothed his hair back, turning his face to the firelight to check a scratch on his cheek. "'Tis understandable, Elladan," he said. He turned away to mix powder from a mortar beside the fire into a mug of tea. He handed the mixture to Elrohir. "Drink that, Elrohir," he instructed.
Elrohir sipped from the cup and made a face at the medicinal taste. "You do not need to poison me to put me out of my misery," he grumbled.
Elrond raised an eyebrow. "Drink it *all*, Elrohir."
Elrohir sighed and downed the drink quickly. He settled deeper into the chair, watching as Elrond continued to clean the cut on Elladan's face. "Are you alright, Elladan?" he asked sleepily.
"Fine, brother. A little damp and a few scratches, that's all," Elladan said. "Do you feel any better?"
"It's still hard to stay awake," Elrohir yawned. "Can I sleep now?"
"Yes, Elrohir," Elrond said. He handed the cloth to Erestor again, letting him finish applying the soothing herbs to Elladan's cuts. Elrond lifted Elrohir easily with no complaints from his son this time. He carried him over to the large bed and laid him against the pillows, tucking the heavy blankets around him. "Sleep here tonight," he whispered.
Elrond returned to the hearth, sitting on the warm bricks next to Elladan. Erestor took it as a signal to leave and finished his ministrations. "Two days and you will not even see a mark," he said cheerfully, putting away the bowls and taking the soiled cloths to be cleaned.
Elrond watched until the door clicked shut and then turned his full attention to Elladan. "You saved your brother?" he said, more of a statement than a question.
Elladan nodded. "His horse fell into the river and he was swept away. Mornel and I went in after him, but I was torn from Mornel's back. He came back for us and pulled us to the bank."
"Oh, blessed Elbereth!" Elrond said, realizing how close he came to losing both of his sons to the river.
Elladan looked at his father with tears in his eyes. "I am so very sorry. I handled the entire situation badly. I will not repeat this evening."
"I daresay that this 'situation' had been going on far longer than just this evening," Elrond said. "Tonight was the culmination of several weeks, it seems, if not longer than that. It was your verisimilitude that caused this, not running away. I spoke to Legolas." Elladan looked up, slightly wary. "You did not fulfill a promise you made to him, though if you spoke to him, he would tell you that it was *he* who was in the wrong."
"That is not true," Elladan said softly.
"Not entirely true, no," Elrond agreed.
He looked at Elladan and noticed something he had not before. His grey eyes were clear and bright instead of the cloudy despair that was seen there for months. His posture was easy, even though he still had to gain back a considerable amount of weight from his long convalescence, and he did not huddle in on himself in an attempt to hide the scars.
"What magic is this?" Elrond mused aloud. He pushed the hair back from Elladan's shoulders, regarding him more closely. "Oh, my Elladan, what did you find beneath the stars to bring you back so suddenly?"
"Found?" Elladan said. "I did not find anything, though I would say that the path is clearer now. I do not feel lost anymore."
Elladan did not expect the embrace from his father that nearly sent them both tumbling to the floor. "That is where Elrohir gets it from," he thought, trying to imagine his father at Elrohir's age. The idea sent him into a fit of laughter that he muffled in Elrond's shoulder.
"What do you find so humorous?" Elrond asked in mock outrage.
Elladan was about to explain when Glorfindel burst through the door. He took in the scene with quick eyes. "Where is the other one?" he asked.
"Asleep," Elladan said, indicating the bed.
Glorfindel stepped over the bed, leaning down to see Elrohir clearly. He brushed his cheek with the back of his hand gently. "Elrohir looks half- drowned," he said.
Elladan shrugged. "He was," he said simply.
Glorfindel collapsed into the abandoned armchair. "Should I want to hear the tale now, or in the morn?"
"I have repeated it too many times already this evening," Elladan said. "Suffice it to say that he fell into the river, but we are both fine."
Glorfindel accepted the brief answer. "I thought it would be Legolas trying to drown himself in the river," he said.
Elladan looked alarmed, but Elrond put a hand on his shoulder. "He was distraught when you left, but he has calmed since then. He is waiting for you in the library for whenever you wish to see him."
Elladan rose. "I believe that now would be the best time," he said.
Elrond took his hand and squeezed it. "You will both be fine," he said with certainty. "Tell the truth. No more lies or pretending."
Elladan nodded. "I will, Father. Tell Elrohir not to worry when he wakes up. Or perhaps Glorfindel should!" he said as he left to the library.
Part 22:
Elrond sat shakily as he watched Elrohir leave the room in a flourish. He breathed deeply, trying to calm himself before facing Legolas. The blond had retreated to a chair in the corner where he huddled miserably, fear evident in his eyes. It was strange to see the Prince so afraid, for though Elrond had only known him for a short time, he always seemed to be an infallible source of strength for his sons.
"I'm sorry," the broken whisper startled Elrond with its quiet clarity. "This is my fault. I understand if you want me to leave."
Elrond's anger dissolved at the soft voice. As a healer and a father, he could not turn away such suffering, no matter what the reason. "I would at least hear what took place to cause Elladan to run away before I would pass judgment, young Prince," he said, rising from his chair and moving closer to Legolas.
Legolas nodded, trying to find his voice to speak. "I…We tried…He promised to tell me if I hurt him!" Elrond could only catch half-phrases and broken sentences, but he understood what happened.
"He isn't ready for physical contact," Elrond surmised. "But you both thought he was."
Legolas nodded. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done anything."
"Legolas," Elrond said, kneeling by the chair. He tipped Legolas's face to look him in the eyes. "He will come back, if Elrohir and Glorfindel do not find him first. Elladan would not leave the valley if he was only frightened, and I will not cast you out of my house for a simple mistake. And may I offer some advice?"
"Anything, my Lord."
"Do not tell Arwen."
Mornel's hooves clattered on the stone path to the courtyard. Elladan thought it better to bring Elrohir to the house before he saw his horse safely to the stables. However, his plans were waylaid as he saw the small congregation waiting them on the porch steps. His father looked stern, though more worried than angry, thank the Valar. He sighed gratefully when he did not see Legolas. He did not think he could face his lover yet after running away so abruptly.
"Elladan?" his father asked, coming up to catch Mornel's head. "What in the name of Elbereth happened?"
"Elrohir fell in the river, and I would not have been able to help him had it not been for Mornel," Elladan said as he handed his brother down to Elrond.
Elrond caught his younger son around the shoulders, steadying him as he swayed. "I'm not hurt, Ada," Elrohir said. "It was my own fault."
Elrond noted the blue tinge to Elrohir's lips and around his finger nails, and the slurred voice. Indeed, Elrohir was quite cold to the touch.
"Come inside quickly. We must get you both warm," he said, ushering them inside.
Elladan felt Erestor's hands on his shoulders, draping a cloak over him and rubbing his skin to warm him. Elrond swept Elrohir's feet from under him, cradling him easily to take him up the stairs.
"Please, Ada," Elrohir complained. "I can walk on my own."
"I know, but it pleases me to care for you so," Elrond said.
They arrived in Elrond's chambers where he immediately set Elrohir in the soft armchair before the fire. Erestor moved to stoke the flames and add more wood until the room was quite warm. Elrond stripped Elrohir of his wet boots and leggings, wrapping him in a soft velvet dressing gown and settling a woolen blanket around him. Erestor helped Elladan to change and sat him on the hearth as he cleaned several shallow scratches gained from the sharp rocks in the river.
"What were you doing without your tunic?" Erestor scolded, but he stopped the question as he saw Elrond shake his head.
Elladan let the question pass, but he closed his eyes for a moment. Elrond placed a glass of miruvor in his hands and Elladan caught his hand before he could withdraw. "I'm sorry, Ada. I did not mean to cause such uproar in the house. I needed air and space to think, but I was wrong to leave so quickly without telling anyone my intentions."
Elrond smoothed his hair back, turning his face to the firelight to check a scratch on his cheek. "'Tis understandable, Elladan," he said. He turned away to mix powder from a mortar beside the fire into a mug of tea. He handed the mixture to Elrohir. "Drink that, Elrohir," he instructed.
Elrohir sipped from the cup and made a face at the medicinal taste. "You do not need to poison me to put me out of my misery," he grumbled.
Elrond raised an eyebrow. "Drink it *all*, Elrohir."
Elrohir sighed and downed the drink quickly. He settled deeper into the chair, watching as Elrond continued to clean the cut on Elladan's face. "Are you alright, Elladan?" he asked sleepily.
"Fine, brother. A little damp and a few scratches, that's all," Elladan said. "Do you feel any better?"
"It's still hard to stay awake," Elrohir yawned. "Can I sleep now?"
"Yes, Elrohir," Elrond said. He handed the cloth to Erestor again, letting him finish applying the soothing herbs to Elladan's cuts. Elrond lifted Elrohir easily with no complaints from his son this time. He carried him over to the large bed and laid him against the pillows, tucking the heavy blankets around him. "Sleep here tonight," he whispered.
Elrond returned to the hearth, sitting on the warm bricks next to Elladan. Erestor took it as a signal to leave and finished his ministrations. "Two days and you will not even see a mark," he said cheerfully, putting away the bowls and taking the soiled cloths to be cleaned.
Elrond watched until the door clicked shut and then turned his full attention to Elladan. "You saved your brother?" he said, more of a statement than a question.
Elladan nodded. "His horse fell into the river and he was swept away. Mornel and I went in after him, but I was torn from Mornel's back. He came back for us and pulled us to the bank."
"Oh, blessed Elbereth!" Elrond said, realizing how close he came to losing both of his sons to the river.
Elladan looked at his father with tears in his eyes. "I am so very sorry. I handled the entire situation badly. I will not repeat this evening."
"I daresay that this 'situation' had been going on far longer than just this evening," Elrond said. "Tonight was the culmination of several weeks, it seems, if not longer than that. It was your verisimilitude that caused this, not running away. I spoke to Legolas." Elladan looked up, slightly wary. "You did not fulfill a promise you made to him, though if you spoke to him, he would tell you that it was *he* who was in the wrong."
"That is not true," Elladan said softly.
"Not entirely true, no," Elrond agreed.
He looked at Elladan and noticed something he had not before. His grey eyes were clear and bright instead of the cloudy despair that was seen there for months. His posture was easy, even though he still had to gain back a considerable amount of weight from his long convalescence, and he did not huddle in on himself in an attempt to hide the scars.
"What magic is this?" Elrond mused aloud. He pushed the hair back from Elladan's shoulders, regarding him more closely. "Oh, my Elladan, what did you find beneath the stars to bring you back so suddenly?"
"Found?" Elladan said. "I did not find anything, though I would say that the path is clearer now. I do not feel lost anymore."
Elladan did not expect the embrace from his father that nearly sent them both tumbling to the floor. "That is where Elrohir gets it from," he thought, trying to imagine his father at Elrohir's age. The idea sent him into a fit of laughter that he muffled in Elrond's shoulder.
"What do you find so humorous?" Elrond asked in mock outrage.
Elladan was about to explain when Glorfindel burst through the door. He took in the scene with quick eyes. "Where is the other one?" he asked.
"Asleep," Elladan said, indicating the bed.
Glorfindel stepped over the bed, leaning down to see Elrohir clearly. He brushed his cheek with the back of his hand gently. "Elrohir looks half- drowned," he said.
Elladan shrugged. "He was," he said simply.
Glorfindel collapsed into the abandoned armchair. "Should I want to hear the tale now, or in the morn?"
"I have repeated it too many times already this evening," Elladan said. "Suffice it to say that he fell into the river, but we are both fine."
Glorfindel accepted the brief answer. "I thought it would be Legolas trying to drown himself in the river," he said.
Elladan looked alarmed, but Elrond put a hand on his shoulder. "He was distraught when you left, but he has calmed since then. He is waiting for you in the library for whenever you wish to see him."
Elladan rose. "I believe that now would be the best time," he said.
Elrond took his hand and squeezed it. "You will both be fine," he said with certainty. "Tell the truth. No more lies or pretending."
Elladan nodded. "I will, Father. Tell Elrohir not to worry when he wakes up. Or perhaps Glorfindel should!" he said as he left to the library.
