Same disclaimer applies here, unfortunately.
"Choices made are promises broken,
And I'm sorry I can't be there forever.
I gladly gave my life for yours,
So hope wouldn't wane forever."
-Half A Month Ago-
Aragorn slowly walked through the halls of Imladris. It had been two weeks since the death of Elrohir, two weeks since his heart had been ripped in half. Estel had barely been out of his room, and hardly seen Elladan in those two weeks. It was such a shock seeing the older twin, it was like seeing Elrohir all over again. Yet...Elrohir was dead. And it was his fault.
Sure, Legolas told him that Elrohir had made his own choice. But Aragorn knew in his heart that if he hadn't of been there, then there wouldn't have been a choice, and Elrohir would still be there. Living, laughing, and playing pranks on everyone in Rivendell.
Walking out towards the gardens, Aragorn sighed. He missed his brother so much. He wished there were some way he could bring his brother back. Some way he could reverse the flow of time, and stop the death that never should have happened.
Remembering back, he thought of something Gandalf once said. "Many that live deserve death, and many that die deserve life."
Shaking his head, he smiled slightly. The old Istari was very wise...a little crazy, but very wise.
Entering the gardens, he stopped as he saw Elladan sitting on one of the benches.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here. I'll leave." Aragorn turned to walk back out.
"Yes, why don't you do that. Why are you even staying here! Knowing you're the reason my brother, and the son of Elrond, is dead. How can you live with yourself! Why should YOU be the one living, when my brother lies in a wooden box underground!" Elladan raged, and glowered at Aragorn.
"Elladan...you ca-...you can't mean that." Aragorn's eyes filled with tears. To be rejected by his only remaining brother was a serious blow to the young man's heart.
"I can mean that. And I do. You are no longer a brother to me. You are nobody. I wish to never see your face again. In fact, when the sun goes down tonight, if I see your face again, I will kill you." Elladan smirked at the human.
"I...Elladan...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to! You have to believe me, I swear I didn't mean to!" Aragorn cried.
"Even if I did, that would not bring my brother back." Elladan looked towards the sun. "I'd go if I were you. There's only two hours of daylight left."
Aragorn sniffed, and turned around. He fled from the garden while a tear spilt down his cheek, and dropped lifelessly onto the ground.
Estel hurriedly entered his room and packed up a few clothes in his saddle bag. He snatched up his water skin, and a stuffed the food Legolas had left on his dresser into a cloth sack.
Taking a last look around his room, he sighed, and headed out towards the stables. Elladan was right. Why stay where you weren't wanted?
Aragorn wasn't surprised that Elrond hadn't even spoken to him. After all, Aragorn was the cause of the death of the elf's son.
Looking around to make sure nobody was around, Aragorn walked quickly across the courtyard. It wouldn't do any good for Legolas to spot him now.
He arrived at the stables and saddled his horse.
"It's just me and you now, mellon nin. If you will stand me for a little while longer." Aragorn rubbed Nahar's neck.
Nahar butted his head against Aragorn's and nickered softly. Giving the horse a small grin, Aragorn mounted him and sped off out of the stables. Circling around, he took his final look of Rivendell, before racing off into the wilds.
Elladan watched this from his bedroom window. The elf smiled coldly to himself, and walked back out towards the gardens.
Little did either of them know, the Orc party was still planning Aragorn's death.
Legolas sighed, and walked past the gardens of Rivendell. That was where he had last saw Aragorn, but the young human wasn't there now. He wasn't anywhere, and Legolas was getting quite worried.
He headed towards the stables, thinking it to be the last possible place Estel could be hiding. The elf's brow furrowed as he noticed Nahar, Aragorn's horse, was missing.
Running up to Estel's room, his brows went a notch lower when he saw clothing strewn on the floor, and all of his friends weapons were gone. It appeared that Aragorn had left, but why?
Legolas shook his head. He knew why. The young human had been blaming himself for Elrohir's death since the start of this mess. Legolas wished he could help his friend heal, but knew the only cure for that ache was time. But how much time! Time wouldn't stop danger from jumping Aragorn at every corner. Trouble seemed to follow that human around like stink to a warg.
Turning a corner, Legolas jumped when he almost ran into Elladan.
"Sorry Elladan, wasn't paying attention." Legolas said, noticing that Elladan looked just a bit more troubled than usual.
"Quite all right, Legolas." Elladan nodded, and started walking towards his room again.
"Say, Elladan. Have you seen Aragorn lately? I can't seem to find him." Legolas watched Elladan go rigid, then turn around. The blonde elf had to gasp at the hatred he saw in the twins eyes.
"Aragorn isn't here." Elladan stated, as if he were discussing the weather.
"Well, where is he?"
"He left, after I told him I'd kill him if I saw him in Imladris after sundown. If you want to see him again, I suggest you hurry. He has a nice head start now."
Legolas blinked, and took a step forward.
"You did WHAT! How could you! He's your BROTHER for Valar's sake!" Legolas glared at the elf.
"No, he isn't. As I told him, I am not brothers with someone who murders my twin. Although Aragorn didn't release that arrow, it was his fault my brother died! His fault I will never be the same again!" Elladan yelled, then rushed off.
Legolas looked down the hall where the other elf had disappeared. He was torn. Should he go to Elladan, and try to talk some sense into the elf? Or should he find Aragorn before the human got himself into trouble...again.
Growling, he decided the dark haired elf needed some time to cool his attitude down. There was no telling what kind of scrape Estel was in at the moment.
Legolas walked quickly to his room and packed, leaving a note stating where he was going on the bed. Running towards the stables, he mounted his horse and with a quick word, took off.
The Mirkwood Prince only hoped he would find his friend in good condition.
Aragorn sighed. It had been three days since he had left Rivendell. Although living in the wilds wasn't so bad, it was the loneliness that bothered him. Usually when he was traveling, he had the twins or Legolas with him. Now he was by himself.
The ranger sat down, having just gotten camp ready for the night. He guessed he would have to get used to it. His family had disowned him, and Legolas would probably want nothing to do with him now. Not after what happened.
Looking up to the stars, Aragorn laid back and watched them. At last his eyelids finally drooped and he feel into a restless sleep.
The Orc captain grinned. He had seen the Ranger traveling through the woods, by himself. It was perfect, for now they didn't even have to travel too close to Rivendell. The ranger had stepped right into his trap.
Although the Orc was very confident he could take the ranger out now, he decided to wait. Let the ranger feel he was safe, then catch him unarmed.
The foul creature grinned to himself again. It wouldn't be very long now...
-A Week Later-
Legolas snarled in frustration. He hadn't even come close to finding the ranger! His friend was making good use of his stealth skills, as the Mirkwood elf couldn't even find a trace of him.
Legolas' horse, Arauke-Sul, butted the elf gently with his head. Legolas smiled and scratched the animal behind his ears.
"We're three days from Rivendell and no closer to finding him." Legolas sighed.
Arauke-Sul nodded slightly, giving the elf his full attention.
"I hope he's ok."
Legolas laughed slightly as the horse nickered in response.
"Well mellon nin, it's time we got started again. Are you up to some hard riding today? I want to cover a lot of ground."
The horse nodded, and Legolas mounted up. Just as he was about to command the horse forward, he heard something. It sounded like...a yell.
"Noro lim, Arauke-Sul!"
The horse started running as fast as an arrow, with Legolas crouched lightly on his back. The wind whipped at his hair, and dust clouded up behind the heels of the animal.
They arrived at a small clearing, and Legolas' heart stopped. Aragorn was surrounded by ten orcs, and the human had an arrow through his chest. Although he was fighting as hard as he could, he was obviously losing.
Without thinking twice, Legolas had strung an arrow and let it fly. Several more followed until all the Orcs were killed, wooden shafts protruding from their necks and chests. Black blood mingled with red and pooled on the ground.
Dropping down from the horse, Legolas quickly raced over to his friend. Aragorn as lying on his back unconscious as his wound continued to release thick red blood all over the grass, staining it a dark red color.
"Oh Aragorn."
Legolas looked at where the arrow was located. It wasn't near his heart or any vital organs that Legolas knew of, so he quickly grabbed the shaft and yanked it from his friend. A thick black goo coated the end, and Legolas sighed. Poisoned.
"Aragorn, wake up mellon nin. You can't sleep all day." Legolas tried to rouse the man, and pulled some athelas from the pack he had brought. He chewed it up and grimaced at the taste. There was no time to boil it, he had to get Estel to Rivendell.
Putting the now wet herb on the wound and binding it up as quickly as he could, Legolas gathered the limp man in his arms and called his horse.
Arauke-Sul trotted over and lowered his great body down so that Legolas could climb up.
"To Rivendell, noro lim Arauke-Sul!"
TBC...
Reviews! -
Zoya - Thank you! Took me a while to get the poems like I wanted, but I think they're sounding okay now. :D
grumpy - Glad you think so! D Well, here is the next part, even if a little late. ;)
Alida-Fruit - I love your reviews! LOL. Edge of your seat? eek! The next chapter should push you off...hehehehehe:D
So Alone - You look forward to it getting worse? LOL! Usually people are threatening to strangle me if I don't make it better...shakes head...
Sue - Thanks, I thought that would sound nice like that. D My poetry sucks but I didn't feel like finding something else for the tomb, so I wrote that. shrugs Glad you are enjoying the fic!
Well, end of this chapter. Next chapter will be up soon:D Reviews are still welcome:D