At request from another quote fanatic I will start to put a relevant (sort
of) quote at the beginning of each chapter for flavor. They are merely for
enjoyment and with the hope that they may bring a smile to you. I will go
back to the previous three chapters and add them in to keep the formatting
similar, so check back to them later for a grin. So for my friend Sam, here
you go...
*****
The Choices We Make
. Chapter 5: A Night of Anticipation and Apprehension . . "Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, 'Where have I gone wrong?' Then a voice says to me, 'This is going to take more than one night.' "
. -Charlie Brown . *****
As Aragorn and Legolas were about to take their running tour through Angmar's countryside Valdumus was awaiting word from Ulak back in Carn Dum. The moon was cycling closer to its new phase and the night was fairly dark. Valdumus could withstand the daytime, but it was by far his least favorite part of the day and the brightness of the sun was a bit disorienting to his sensitive eyes. As he sat there he got a distinct sense of satisfaction knowing that Nadina was probably bored to death, were she still alive, keeping a silent watch on the two whom dared to encroach into this land. He knew very well of her lack of patience for such matters and the fact that if either of the two were handsome it was distressing her to no end to be so intangible. Even though he had told her not to aid the two he knew quite well that she would and that fact was exactly why he had sent her and not someone else to keep and eye on them.
Earlier he had sent a message to the orcs living in the mountains to the south and even though the crebain disliked flying into the orc infested caves he was far too afraid of his master to disobey. The wretched bird should have gotten there just before nightfall to give Grimnosh enough time to gather his band and reach the two travelers this very night. He sent for Grimnosh because he was farther to the south than Nadina had been when she had run into the two and he was in a perfect position to drive them north and cut of any retreat back to the south. There was always a slight chance the orcs would manage to kill the two, but he didn't think Grimnosh's inept band could overtake an elf and a ranger. Grimnosh himself was quite competent for an orc and had been useful to Valdumus many times in the past, but he was cursed with the most blockheaded relatives Valdumus had ever seen. His witless servant Ulak was a prime example of one of Grimnosh's dense kin. The message would tell Grimnosh what was befalling, but his kin was not to be informed and they wouldn't care anyway as long as they had a chance to go after an elf. 'And I'm sure Nadina will probably take care of any who get to close,' he thought with pleasure. 'Yes, my little succubus will fulfill her part as a shepherdess well.' With the aid of Nadina and Grimnosh, Valdumus was not worried that the two would not reach Carn Dum in time. He could still communicate with Nadina through his link with her if he so wished, but soon it would make little difference. As soon as everyone reached the old forest, which if Grimnosh was doing his job it would not be long now, everyone would come close enough within his range for him to be able to psychically keep track of them all and connect to any one of them if he so desired. 'Then the fun will begin,' he thought wickedly, for he already had his target picked out.
*****
Ulak was standing outside on the rampart waiting for the crow to get back so he could hopefully take a message from Grimnosh to his master. Lord Valdumus would be very mad if something happened to the birdie or it couldn't find the other orc. He only hoped that out of the goblin kind his master's mistress had killed Grimnosh wasn't one of them. He did not want to have to deliver that particular message to his master if she did. Ulak was starting to get antsy as he waited. He was sure the bird should have been back by now.
"Why me," he wined in his nasally voice.
"What is yous wining about, Ulak, the birdie be back soon," said one of the burly guards at the massive gates.
"Yeah, you go fidget somewhere else. Yous gettin' on my nerves," snarled the other guard.
"Easy for you to say, Nagsh" Ulak snorted, "yous two never has to talk with the boss when he's mad."
"Ah, quit your gripin," said the first guard as he pointed to the sky, "here comes the bird now."
The smaller orc turned around again and to his immense relief he saw the crow approaching the tower and let out an audible sigh of relief.
Before the crow could land Ulak heard Valdumus mentally call to him. His master's voice was so dominating it always made him wince and cover his ears as if that act could actually block it out. 'Ulak,' he heard in his head, 'has that rat with wings returned yet.'
"Yes my lord," he said out loud, "the rat, I mean, bird is just now landing."
'Good, if is carrying a message I want it at once.'
"Yes my lord," answered the orc as he was already moving toward another orc who held the bird and was untying a small object from its leg.
The two guards snickered as he quickly ran past them over to the bird handler snatched the object away and dashed off towards the tower. Ulak ran up the spiral stairs to his master's favorite waiting room and paused to knock on the door.
"Well?" he heard from inside the room before his hand even came into contact with the door.
He didn't know why he even bothered to stop and knock anymore. Ulak entered the room to see his master standing in front of the window and as he came through the door Valdumus turned his penetrating gaze toward the orc. When he did the chilling darkness Ulak was so familiar with swept over him and sent a shiver down his spin. The heat he had been building up through his prancing around the grounds and the dash up the stairs was replaced by a chill that made him unconsciously shrink back towards the door. Valdumus rolled his eyes and sighed to himself. 'Why me?' he thought.
"Bring it here, halfwit."
Ulak remembered the object he clutched in his hand, straitened up, and walked over to his master. Valdumus reached out and took it from the orc and waved his other hand absentmindedly at him to go away. Ulak recognized a dismissal when he saw one and, grateful for being ignored, left the room.
Valdumus looked down at the object the crow had brought back. It was a small jeweled pin Grimnosh commonly wore that he had taken from the dead body of a noble man after he had killed him for Valdumus. It signaled that Grimnosh had received the message, understood, and was probably even now in pursuit. "Excellent," he said out loud.
*****
Valdumus didn't have to wait long, for only a couple of hours after he had received a sign from Grimnosh he finally felt the elf and man's presence as well as Nadina, Grimnosh, and his band of misfits enter his mind. 'They have entered the forest,' he thought with delight. Now he could keep track of everyone himself. "Finally, entertainment," he thought out loud to himself.
************
That same night as Legolas and Aragorn took flight from the orcs a figure was pacing around his room back in Rivendell. Although the hour was late Elrond couldn't sleep and he had finally given up on the idea and got back up. The pressure that had been building in his head since breakfast had now turned into a full-blown headache. He had tried to drive it away with herbs that dulled pain, but it was very resilient and would not go away. When he had arose again the worry he felt for the two young ones in the north had driven him to pacing around his room for the lack of anything better to do. 'Oh, stop it,' he scolded himself after he realized he was pacing. 'Wearing a hole in the carpet is not going to help them.' Mind made up, Elrond then left his room and headed toward the kitchen to make himself a cup of hot tea. 'At least there in no carpet on the kitchen floor to wear a hole in,' he thought dryly.
*****
Elladan crept out of his bedroom, after thoroughly inspecting the door of course, and head for the storeroom that held the bulk of the herbs in Rivendell. He crept down the hall noiselessly, as only an elf could, and peaked around the corner. Elrohir had struck first the last time and he was determined to make the first move this time. He heard about Elrohir's little 'accident' this morning and almost laughed out loud at the thought even as he was trying to move about silently. He would have traded an entire thousand years off his life to have seen that and giggled a little despite himself. He stopped to bring himself under control and just shook his head. He proceeded down the hall to cut through the kitchen to the west wing were the storeroom was. Elladan was so caught up in his thoughts he failed to notice a faint light coming from underneath the door and opened it. He swung the door open intending to proceed through only to come face to face with his father! 'Of all the bad luck,' he thought despairingly with a sigh, 'why me?'
*****
After Elrond fixed himself a cup of tea he decided to go and make himself sit down in a chair in the library so he couldn't pace. As he was about to exit the kitchen through the door the last thing he expected in the middle of the night was to almost run into his eldest son. 'At least he was not running through the door like Elrohir,' he thought. Elrond remembered his mistake from this morning of simple trying to walk through doors around the dinning area in this house and was glad he was not wearing his tea right now.
" 'Quel undome, adar," said Elladan looking very innocent.
'Too innocent,' thought Elrond.
Elladan was about to say more, but Elrond cut him off as he held up the hand without the cup in it.
"I do not even want to know," said Elrond and Elladan let out an unconscious sigh of relief.
Elrond smiled inwardly to himself when he heard his son sigh in relief.
"But, if you are headed to the storeroom you can turn right back around the way you came," he said and smiled for real at the look of astonishment of Elladan's face.
'Elflings,' Elrond thought as he shook his head and his long dark hair swayed around him. They never assumed that they were doing something that he himself hadn't tried a long time ago. It never dawned on them that parents also used to be children at one point in their life. He was beginning to realize what his father had probably felt like when he was raising Elros and himself. He decided that the person who said "what goes around, comes around" was a very wise being indeed.
"Come my son, forget about the storeroom for awhile and let us fix you some tea and while things are temporarily peaceful you can sit and talk with your father for a bit. But I suggest the next time you go creeping through this house in the middle of the night to do it when I am not up."
Elladan was so shocked by that last statement you could have pushed him over with a feather. Did his father just give him permission to do what he thought he meant? 'Elrohir must have hit him in the head this morning.'
*****
Elrond and Elladan went back into the kitchen and fixed more tea and then headed for the dinning hall to sit down. Elrond was actually glad his son was still up for the conversation helped to distract his thoughts away from his aching head and it gave him something to do besides wear a hole on his carpet. They entered the hall and approached the table at the same time Legolas and Aragorn were entering the forest far to the north.
Elrond had just walked up to the table when he was overpowered by a sense of dread. A white light flared in his vision that blocked out the room in front of him and he found it suddenly hard to breathe. He instinctively brought his hands up to his head and the forgotten cup crashed loudly to the floor and broke spilling its contents. Time seemed to slow down and he couldn't tell which way up. He felt an overwhelming sense of evil that was so strong it made him shiver as if cold. The small rational part of his mind told him that this was a rather sever warning for something and he should probably do something about it. His ears began to ring and the pounding in his head intensified. He was sure his head was going to explode from the pressure, but then the ringing quieted and the pain dulled. The white mist in front of his eyes began to clear, but it still distorted the images he saw and made it look as if he were watching a dream. He dazedly realized he was sitting on the floor with Elladan holding him up. He could see his son's lips moving, but he couldn't hear anything except for ringing coupled with the sound of his own heartbeat. The next thing he knew Glorfindel's face appeared in his line of sight and with it a feeling of warmth washed through him that drove away the cold and pushed the fog from his mind. His vision and hearing snapped back into focus with such force it almost made him swoon and he would have toppled over if not for the strong grip Glorfindel and Elladan had on him.
*****
Elladan had reached the table first and was just about to sit down when he heard his father's cup hit the floor and break. He turned around and saw to his horror his father was clutching his head and appearing to be in pain. All of the color drained from the elf lord's face and his knees buckled. With elven quick reflexes Elladan caught his father in time to keep him from going face first into the long table. They fell to the floor together knocking over one of the heavy wooden chairs in the process and it hit the polished floor with a loud bang that echoed through the house. Elladan was unsure of what to do; his father had seemed fine two seconds ago. Elladan was a fine and competent healer trained by the best, but he was used to his father patching him up when he was down and not the other way around. His father didn't seem to have blacked out; so he did the only thing he could think of and tried talking to him as he shook him gently. He became even more frightened when he felt his father start to shiver in his grasp. His breath came in short gasps and as Elladan began to panic his breathing started to match that of his father's. His heart lightened when his father raised his head slightly and seemed to look at him, but it sunk through the floor when his eyes held no recognition. His eyes were glazed and unfocused. Elladan had never seen a more welcome sight in all his life than when he looked up to Elrohir enter the hall with Glorfindel on his heels. As soon as the two took in the scene before them they broke into a run.
"What happened?" said the fair-haired elf as he came around the table and knelt down next to them.
"I do not know! We made tea and came in here to sit down and talk. I turned around and he just collapsed. He seems to be in pain and I don't think he can hear me at all."
Glorfindel looked down with concerned blue eyes at his friend. Elrond didn't look well that was for sure. He was pale and appeared to be cold. Glorfindel's first thought was that he might be in some sort of shock, but from what? Surely Elrond's teas hadn't grown that bad to drink. He reached out his hands and clasped his friend's head forcing him to look him in the eyes. As soon as he did he felt the cold and disorientation Elrond was feeling and it sent a shiver through his entire body. It was so intense he had to close his eyes and collect himself. With his eyes still closed he gathered his inner light and all the warmth of his being, opened his eyes, and sent it into his friend. He saw the cold flood out and noticed that it was too sudden of a change and grabbed hold of Elrond's shoulders as he almost swooned.
Elrond snapped out of it with a gasp and brought one of his hands back to his head and shielded his eyes from the glaring light. He shut his eyes and took a few steady deep breaths as he collected his wits.
As his friend was recovering Glorfindel noticed they had made enough noise to draw a small crowd and they all looked rather unnerved at seeing the Lord of Rivendell slumped on the floor sick.
"All is well here now. He will be fine. Please go back to your rooms."
Everyone was curious about what had happened and worried that their lord was not well, but Glorfindel was also an elf lord and they respected his wishes and departed for their rooms.
When Elrond felt well enough to look up he saw two sets of confused and very worried eyes, and one pair of worried and questioning eyes staring back at him. Elladan who was still of the floor beside him looked just about as bad as he had felt a minute ago and he was sure he had probably just about succeeded in giving his eldest son a heart attack. Elladan still had not released the protective grip he had on him and it didn't look as if he was going to give up on the idea anytime soon. Elrohir on the other hand was standing there frozen in place. Despite his situation the healer part of his mind registered that they were probably in slight shock. When he looked at Glorfindel he saw that he was much more composed. His eyes held worry, but there was also curiosity and that ever-present calmness in them as well.
"It would seem, mellonamin, that every time you have seen me today I seem to be on the floor," he said with a weak smile.
"It would appear that way. You seemed to have developed a fascination with studying the floor from a closer point of view," Glorfindel responded with a warm smile of his own.
"If you don't mind Elladan, I think I would like to get up off of the floor now."
Elladan just stared at him as if he were sporting three heads and a silmarilli on each one.
"But father, what, are you, can you, is that wise?"
"It is alright, my son, I am alright now. You may assist me up if you wish," he said gently.
Elrond started to get up and Elladan and Elrohir snapped out of their stupor and assisted him into the closest chair. Glorfindel uprighted the previously knocked over chair and sat in it while the twins stood close by their father's chair. Glorfindel patiently looked at his friend and said nothing as he waited for Elrond to speak first. He noticed the color had come back to Elrond's face and his eyes were clear and alert. If he had not seen him collapsed on the floor minutes ago and completely unaware he would never had known it had happened at all.
Glorfindel's inquisitive stare was all the confirmation Elrond needed to know that his friend had felt something also. As he looked back his eyes held recognition and he knew his friend would know that he understood, they needed no spoken words.
"Elladan would you please go make some more tea with herbs to calm everyone's nerves and Elrohir would you please go help him."
Two sets of elven jaws dropped almost to the floor at the thought of being dismissed like children sent away while the grown-ups talked of things they couldn't comprehend yet.
"But, ada you can't be series. What happened? What can I do?
"Are you alright? Do you need anything? What do you mean go away?"
Elladan and Elrohir responded at the same time completely confused.
"Please, the both of you, I am not in the mood to argue," Elrond said and his tone left no room for further argument.
"Yes, adar,' they reluctantly responded in unison and headed for the kitchen with matching looks of concern lingering in their eyes.
*****
"Was that necessary, my friend? They are not children anymore and are only concerned for their father," said the fair-haired elf after the two younger ones had left.
"I am aware of that and it makes my heart glad to know that they are. But I need to think and I can not do it with them hovering over my shoulder so."
Elrond looked as if he wanted to say more, but stopped and sat there quietly with his chin resting on his hand. Glorfindel did not push for he knew that if Elrond wanted to tell him his thoughts he would do so in good time.
Elrond sat in silence for a long while and when he finally spoke his voice sounded tired and strained.
"I think it was a warning of some kind. I believe it has to something to do with Estel and Legolas. I think something still lurks in the land they now travel to, although I do not know what and know not what to do."
"Those two do have a remarkable skill to attract trouble to themselves, but they have always shown amazing resilience in the fact that they always manage to find a way to deal with it. They are quite resourceful, my friend, have faith."
Elrond was inclined to agree with Glorfindel's statement. They did always manage to return, although in what particular state was sometimes questionable. Elrond sometimes grew weary of sending word to Thranduil about his son after Aragorn and he returned the worse for wear. He was sure the fiery elf-king wanted to string him up by his feet, lord of Rivendell and holder of Vilya or not, every time he allowed the two to venture off together. It was true they always returned, but never before had he received such a forceful premonition and his anxiety increased.
"Let us hope that our faith will be enough, for although I fear it may not be, there may be nothing we can do."
*****
Elladan and Elrohir in the kitchen were not really eavesdropping per say, they figured it wasn't their fault their hearing was good enough to hear through the door. One only had to innocently stand close enough. The strain in their father's voice filled them with dread and they couldn't help but worry for their young human brother and elven friend. Their father was not one to usually give up hope and this only increase the fear that was starting to build. Although their father as ruler and protector over this sanctuary was obligated to stay and fulfill his station, they on the other hand were not so constrained.
Elladan turned from his position next to the door to face his twin bother with determination shining in his blue eyes.
"Father may not be able to do anything Elrohir, but maybe we can."
TBC...
I know, I know, no Legolas and Aragorn in this chapter (says as dodging thrown objects). What happened to them? *Gnaws on nails* I didn't want to break their chapter in the middle of what will probably be a lengthy scene with them and I feared it would make too long of a chapter combined with the lengthy babbling above. Which as everyone can see I have now expanded my torture horizons to include everyone I come into contact with, so everyone has now become fair game to my torture, muah, ah, ah. The previous chapters had some elf angst in them for you addicts out there, but this is also an action/adventure flick, so lets speed it up in the next chapter shall we? For the angsters, don't worry, I have not yet begun to torture yet and you never know who my next victim will be, muah, ah, ah, ah!
Note: No, Nadina is not really a succubus, it is just a pet name.
***
'Quel undome, adar Good evening, father
mellonamin my friend
ada dad (daddy)
*****
Thanks to everyone who reviewed chapter four, you make my day! And PLEASE *keep* reviewing, I appreciate it so much ; ) And see how fast this chapter was posted. I told you your reviews make the little review wizard climb out of the woodwork and whack me over the head whenever I'm not working on it. He's quite a motivator, as are you! Chapter six will be posted very shortly (considering it already partly written).
***
Sprout - Thanks for your continued reviews, I enjoy knowing you like the story ; ) Please keep reading and reviewing, for my sanity. Wait a minute, when was I ever sane? Mmh. *Shrugs*
Karri - This one wasn't quite as intense as the last one, but I put a little humor in it for everyone. Does it ever seem to be peaceful at the Last Homely Home? I plan to step up the pace in the next chapter, which will be posted soon. Keep reviewing, I look forward to it! Thanks again.
Tithen Min - I'm glad you like the story, really!! Sorry about your stress level : ) I know what you mean, I've bit my nails through the hole story so far. But things aren't about to calm down for our heroes anytime soon *grins evilly*. How far do you think I can push them before they fall of the cliff, mmm?
tapetum lucidum - Glad your enjoying the story. I love Aragorn and Legolas fics also (can't ya tell?). They're my favorite two characters (I should get help). I have to admit I have not read the Mellon Chronicles, although I will try now. And I do try to consciously remember Legolas is an elf with great senses, I'm glad it seems to come across. An elf torture addict as well, uh? Well, I think I can accommodate you then. I really like Nadina and I personally don't think she will be able to keep her intangible nose out of our elf's business for long, do you? Later on I might just turn her loose and let her play. What do ya think? Boy, is Legolas lucky she's not alive anymore!
Jessica332 - Thanks a whole bunch for adding me to your favorites list !!!!!!! You made my day. *Big hug* Feel free to review or e-mail me with comments, questions, flame, corrections, or anything else you may wish to say at anytime. O.K. let me rephrase that. Please review! *Begs on hand and knees*
*****
The Choices We Make
. Chapter 5: A Night of Anticipation and Apprehension . . "Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, 'Where have I gone wrong?' Then a voice says to me, 'This is going to take more than one night.' "
. -Charlie Brown . *****
As Aragorn and Legolas were about to take their running tour through Angmar's countryside Valdumus was awaiting word from Ulak back in Carn Dum. The moon was cycling closer to its new phase and the night was fairly dark. Valdumus could withstand the daytime, but it was by far his least favorite part of the day and the brightness of the sun was a bit disorienting to his sensitive eyes. As he sat there he got a distinct sense of satisfaction knowing that Nadina was probably bored to death, were she still alive, keeping a silent watch on the two whom dared to encroach into this land. He knew very well of her lack of patience for such matters and the fact that if either of the two were handsome it was distressing her to no end to be so intangible. Even though he had told her not to aid the two he knew quite well that she would and that fact was exactly why he had sent her and not someone else to keep and eye on them.
Earlier he had sent a message to the orcs living in the mountains to the south and even though the crebain disliked flying into the orc infested caves he was far too afraid of his master to disobey. The wretched bird should have gotten there just before nightfall to give Grimnosh enough time to gather his band and reach the two travelers this very night. He sent for Grimnosh because he was farther to the south than Nadina had been when she had run into the two and he was in a perfect position to drive them north and cut of any retreat back to the south. There was always a slight chance the orcs would manage to kill the two, but he didn't think Grimnosh's inept band could overtake an elf and a ranger. Grimnosh himself was quite competent for an orc and had been useful to Valdumus many times in the past, but he was cursed with the most blockheaded relatives Valdumus had ever seen. His witless servant Ulak was a prime example of one of Grimnosh's dense kin. The message would tell Grimnosh what was befalling, but his kin was not to be informed and they wouldn't care anyway as long as they had a chance to go after an elf. 'And I'm sure Nadina will probably take care of any who get to close,' he thought with pleasure. 'Yes, my little succubus will fulfill her part as a shepherdess well.' With the aid of Nadina and Grimnosh, Valdumus was not worried that the two would not reach Carn Dum in time. He could still communicate with Nadina through his link with her if he so wished, but soon it would make little difference. As soon as everyone reached the old forest, which if Grimnosh was doing his job it would not be long now, everyone would come close enough within his range for him to be able to psychically keep track of them all and connect to any one of them if he so desired. 'Then the fun will begin,' he thought wickedly, for he already had his target picked out.
*****
Ulak was standing outside on the rampart waiting for the crow to get back so he could hopefully take a message from Grimnosh to his master. Lord Valdumus would be very mad if something happened to the birdie or it couldn't find the other orc. He only hoped that out of the goblin kind his master's mistress had killed Grimnosh wasn't one of them. He did not want to have to deliver that particular message to his master if she did. Ulak was starting to get antsy as he waited. He was sure the bird should have been back by now.
"Why me," he wined in his nasally voice.
"What is yous wining about, Ulak, the birdie be back soon," said one of the burly guards at the massive gates.
"Yeah, you go fidget somewhere else. Yous gettin' on my nerves," snarled the other guard.
"Easy for you to say, Nagsh" Ulak snorted, "yous two never has to talk with the boss when he's mad."
"Ah, quit your gripin," said the first guard as he pointed to the sky, "here comes the bird now."
The smaller orc turned around again and to his immense relief he saw the crow approaching the tower and let out an audible sigh of relief.
Before the crow could land Ulak heard Valdumus mentally call to him. His master's voice was so dominating it always made him wince and cover his ears as if that act could actually block it out. 'Ulak,' he heard in his head, 'has that rat with wings returned yet.'
"Yes my lord," he said out loud, "the rat, I mean, bird is just now landing."
'Good, if is carrying a message I want it at once.'
"Yes my lord," answered the orc as he was already moving toward another orc who held the bird and was untying a small object from its leg.
The two guards snickered as he quickly ran past them over to the bird handler snatched the object away and dashed off towards the tower. Ulak ran up the spiral stairs to his master's favorite waiting room and paused to knock on the door.
"Well?" he heard from inside the room before his hand even came into contact with the door.
He didn't know why he even bothered to stop and knock anymore. Ulak entered the room to see his master standing in front of the window and as he came through the door Valdumus turned his penetrating gaze toward the orc. When he did the chilling darkness Ulak was so familiar with swept over him and sent a shiver down his spin. The heat he had been building up through his prancing around the grounds and the dash up the stairs was replaced by a chill that made him unconsciously shrink back towards the door. Valdumus rolled his eyes and sighed to himself. 'Why me?' he thought.
"Bring it here, halfwit."
Ulak remembered the object he clutched in his hand, straitened up, and walked over to his master. Valdumus reached out and took it from the orc and waved his other hand absentmindedly at him to go away. Ulak recognized a dismissal when he saw one and, grateful for being ignored, left the room.
Valdumus looked down at the object the crow had brought back. It was a small jeweled pin Grimnosh commonly wore that he had taken from the dead body of a noble man after he had killed him for Valdumus. It signaled that Grimnosh had received the message, understood, and was probably even now in pursuit. "Excellent," he said out loud.
*****
Valdumus didn't have to wait long, for only a couple of hours after he had received a sign from Grimnosh he finally felt the elf and man's presence as well as Nadina, Grimnosh, and his band of misfits enter his mind. 'They have entered the forest,' he thought with delight. Now he could keep track of everyone himself. "Finally, entertainment," he thought out loud to himself.
************
That same night as Legolas and Aragorn took flight from the orcs a figure was pacing around his room back in Rivendell. Although the hour was late Elrond couldn't sleep and he had finally given up on the idea and got back up. The pressure that had been building in his head since breakfast had now turned into a full-blown headache. He had tried to drive it away with herbs that dulled pain, but it was very resilient and would not go away. When he had arose again the worry he felt for the two young ones in the north had driven him to pacing around his room for the lack of anything better to do. 'Oh, stop it,' he scolded himself after he realized he was pacing. 'Wearing a hole in the carpet is not going to help them.' Mind made up, Elrond then left his room and headed toward the kitchen to make himself a cup of hot tea. 'At least there in no carpet on the kitchen floor to wear a hole in,' he thought dryly.
*****
Elladan crept out of his bedroom, after thoroughly inspecting the door of course, and head for the storeroom that held the bulk of the herbs in Rivendell. He crept down the hall noiselessly, as only an elf could, and peaked around the corner. Elrohir had struck first the last time and he was determined to make the first move this time. He heard about Elrohir's little 'accident' this morning and almost laughed out loud at the thought even as he was trying to move about silently. He would have traded an entire thousand years off his life to have seen that and giggled a little despite himself. He stopped to bring himself under control and just shook his head. He proceeded down the hall to cut through the kitchen to the west wing were the storeroom was. Elladan was so caught up in his thoughts he failed to notice a faint light coming from underneath the door and opened it. He swung the door open intending to proceed through only to come face to face with his father! 'Of all the bad luck,' he thought despairingly with a sigh, 'why me?'
*****
After Elrond fixed himself a cup of tea he decided to go and make himself sit down in a chair in the library so he couldn't pace. As he was about to exit the kitchen through the door the last thing he expected in the middle of the night was to almost run into his eldest son. 'At least he was not running through the door like Elrohir,' he thought. Elrond remembered his mistake from this morning of simple trying to walk through doors around the dinning area in this house and was glad he was not wearing his tea right now.
" 'Quel undome, adar," said Elladan looking very innocent.
'Too innocent,' thought Elrond.
Elladan was about to say more, but Elrond cut him off as he held up the hand without the cup in it.
"I do not even want to know," said Elrond and Elladan let out an unconscious sigh of relief.
Elrond smiled inwardly to himself when he heard his son sigh in relief.
"But, if you are headed to the storeroom you can turn right back around the way you came," he said and smiled for real at the look of astonishment of Elladan's face.
'Elflings,' Elrond thought as he shook his head and his long dark hair swayed around him. They never assumed that they were doing something that he himself hadn't tried a long time ago. It never dawned on them that parents also used to be children at one point in their life. He was beginning to realize what his father had probably felt like when he was raising Elros and himself. He decided that the person who said "what goes around, comes around" was a very wise being indeed.
"Come my son, forget about the storeroom for awhile and let us fix you some tea and while things are temporarily peaceful you can sit and talk with your father for a bit. But I suggest the next time you go creeping through this house in the middle of the night to do it when I am not up."
Elladan was so shocked by that last statement you could have pushed him over with a feather. Did his father just give him permission to do what he thought he meant? 'Elrohir must have hit him in the head this morning.'
*****
Elrond and Elladan went back into the kitchen and fixed more tea and then headed for the dinning hall to sit down. Elrond was actually glad his son was still up for the conversation helped to distract his thoughts away from his aching head and it gave him something to do besides wear a hole on his carpet. They entered the hall and approached the table at the same time Legolas and Aragorn were entering the forest far to the north.
Elrond had just walked up to the table when he was overpowered by a sense of dread. A white light flared in his vision that blocked out the room in front of him and he found it suddenly hard to breathe. He instinctively brought his hands up to his head and the forgotten cup crashed loudly to the floor and broke spilling its contents. Time seemed to slow down and he couldn't tell which way up. He felt an overwhelming sense of evil that was so strong it made him shiver as if cold. The small rational part of his mind told him that this was a rather sever warning for something and he should probably do something about it. His ears began to ring and the pounding in his head intensified. He was sure his head was going to explode from the pressure, but then the ringing quieted and the pain dulled. The white mist in front of his eyes began to clear, but it still distorted the images he saw and made it look as if he were watching a dream. He dazedly realized he was sitting on the floor with Elladan holding him up. He could see his son's lips moving, but he couldn't hear anything except for ringing coupled with the sound of his own heartbeat. The next thing he knew Glorfindel's face appeared in his line of sight and with it a feeling of warmth washed through him that drove away the cold and pushed the fog from his mind. His vision and hearing snapped back into focus with such force it almost made him swoon and he would have toppled over if not for the strong grip Glorfindel and Elladan had on him.
*****
Elladan had reached the table first and was just about to sit down when he heard his father's cup hit the floor and break. He turned around and saw to his horror his father was clutching his head and appearing to be in pain. All of the color drained from the elf lord's face and his knees buckled. With elven quick reflexes Elladan caught his father in time to keep him from going face first into the long table. They fell to the floor together knocking over one of the heavy wooden chairs in the process and it hit the polished floor with a loud bang that echoed through the house. Elladan was unsure of what to do; his father had seemed fine two seconds ago. Elladan was a fine and competent healer trained by the best, but he was used to his father patching him up when he was down and not the other way around. His father didn't seem to have blacked out; so he did the only thing he could think of and tried talking to him as he shook him gently. He became even more frightened when he felt his father start to shiver in his grasp. His breath came in short gasps and as Elladan began to panic his breathing started to match that of his father's. His heart lightened when his father raised his head slightly and seemed to look at him, but it sunk through the floor when his eyes held no recognition. His eyes were glazed and unfocused. Elladan had never seen a more welcome sight in all his life than when he looked up to Elrohir enter the hall with Glorfindel on his heels. As soon as the two took in the scene before them they broke into a run.
"What happened?" said the fair-haired elf as he came around the table and knelt down next to them.
"I do not know! We made tea and came in here to sit down and talk. I turned around and he just collapsed. He seems to be in pain and I don't think he can hear me at all."
Glorfindel looked down with concerned blue eyes at his friend. Elrond didn't look well that was for sure. He was pale and appeared to be cold. Glorfindel's first thought was that he might be in some sort of shock, but from what? Surely Elrond's teas hadn't grown that bad to drink. He reached out his hands and clasped his friend's head forcing him to look him in the eyes. As soon as he did he felt the cold and disorientation Elrond was feeling and it sent a shiver through his entire body. It was so intense he had to close his eyes and collect himself. With his eyes still closed he gathered his inner light and all the warmth of his being, opened his eyes, and sent it into his friend. He saw the cold flood out and noticed that it was too sudden of a change and grabbed hold of Elrond's shoulders as he almost swooned.
Elrond snapped out of it with a gasp and brought one of his hands back to his head and shielded his eyes from the glaring light. He shut his eyes and took a few steady deep breaths as he collected his wits.
As his friend was recovering Glorfindel noticed they had made enough noise to draw a small crowd and they all looked rather unnerved at seeing the Lord of Rivendell slumped on the floor sick.
"All is well here now. He will be fine. Please go back to your rooms."
Everyone was curious about what had happened and worried that their lord was not well, but Glorfindel was also an elf lord and they respected his wishes and departed for their rooms.
When Elrond felt well enough to look up he saw two sets of confused and very worried eyes, and one pair of worried and questioning eyes staring back at him. Elladan who was still of the floor beside him looked just about as bad as he had felt a minute ago and he was sure he had probably just about succeeded in giving his eldest son a heart attack. Elladan still had not released the protective grip he had on him and it didn't look as if he was going to give up on the idea anytime soon. Elrohir on the other hand was standing there frozen in place. Despite his situation the healer part of his mind registered that they were probably in slight shock. When he looked at Glorfindel he saw that he was much more composed. His eyes held worry, but there was also curiosity and that ever-present calmness in them as well.
"It would seem, mellonamin, that every time you have seen me today I seem to be on the floor," he said with a weak smile.
"It would appear that way. You seemed to have developed a fascination with studying the floor from a closer point of view," Glorfindel responded with a warm smile of his own.
"If you don't mind Elladan, I think I would like to get up off of the floor now."
Elladan just stared at him as if he were sporting three heads and a silmarilli on each one.
"But father, what, are you, can you, is that wise?"
"It is alright, my son, I am alright now. You may assist me up if you wish," he said gently.
Elrond started to get up and Elladan and Elrohir snapped out of their stupor and assisted him into the closest chair. Glorfindel uprighted the previously knocked over chair and sat in it while the twins stood close by their father's chair. Glorfindel patiently looked at his friend and said nothing as he waited for Elrond to speak first. He noticed the color had come back to Elrond's face and his eyes were clear and alert. If he had not seen him collapsed on the floor minutes ago and completely unaware he would never had known it had happened at all.
Glorfindel's inquisitive stare was all the confirmation Elrond needed to know that his friend had felt something also. As he looked back his eyes held recognition and he knew his friend would know that he understood, they needed no spoken words.
"Elladan would you please go make some more tea with herbs to calm everyone's nerves and Elrohir would you please go help him."
Two sets of elven jaws dropped almost to the floor at the thought of being dismissed like children sent away while the grown-ups talked of things they couldn't comprehend yet.
"But, ada you can't be series. What happened? What can I do?
"Are you alright? Do you need anything? What do you mean go away?"
Elladan and Elrohir responded at the same time completely confused.
"Please, the both of you, I am not in the mood to argue," Elrond said and his tone left no room for further argument.
"Yes, adar,' they reluctantly responded in unison and headed for the kitchen with matching looks of concern lingering in their eyes.
*****
"Was that necessary, my friend? They are not children anymore and are only concerned for their father," said the fair-haired elf after the two younger ones had left.
"I am aware of that and it makes my heart glad to know that they are. But I need to think and I can not do it with them hovering over my shoulder so."
Elrond looked as if he wanted to say more, but stopped and sat there quietly with his chin resting on his hand. Glorfindel did not push for he knew that if Elrond wanted to tell him his thoughts he would do so in good time.
Elrond sat in silence for a long while and when he finally spoke his voice sounded tired and strained.
"I think it was a warning of some kind. I believe it has to something to do with Estel and Legolas. I think something still lurks in the land they now travel to, although I do not know what and know not what to do."
"Those two do have a remarkable skill to attract trouble to themselves, but they have always shown amazing resilience in the fact that they always manage to find a way to deal with it. They are quite resourceful, my friend, have faith."
Elrond was inclined to agree with Glorfindel's statement. They did always manage to return, although in what particular state was sometimes questionable. Elrond sometimes grew weary of sending word to Thranduil about his son after Aragorn and he returned the worse for wear. He was sure the fiery elf-king wanted to string him up by his feet, lord of Rivendell and holder of Vilya or not, every time he allowed the two to venture off together. It was true they always returned, but never before had he received such a forceful premonition and his anxiety increased.
"Let us hope that our faith will be enough, for although I fear it may not be, there may be nothing we can do."
*****
Elladan and Elrohir in the kitchen were not really eavesdropping per say, they figured it wasn't their fault their hearing was good enough to hear through the door. One only had to innocently stand close enough. The strain in their father's voice filled them with dread and they couldn't help but worry for their young human brother and elven friend. Their father was not one to usually give up hope and this only increase the fear that was starting to build. Although their father as ruler and protector over this sanctuary was obligated to stay and fulfill his station, they on the other hand were not so constrained.
Elladan turned from his position next to the door to face his twin bother with determination shining in his blue eyes.
"Father may not be able to do anything Elrohir, but maybe we can."
TBC...
I know, I know, no Legolas and Aragorn in this chapter (says as dodging thrown objects). What happened to them? *Gnaws on nails* I didn't want to break their chapter in the middle of what will probably be a lengthy scene with them and I feared it would make too long of a chapter combined with the lengthy babbling above. Which as everyone can see I have now expanded my torture horizons to include everyone I come into contact with, so everyone has now become fair game to my torture, muah, ah, ah. The previous chapters had some elf angst in them for you addicts out there, but this is also an action/adventure flick, so lets speed it up in the next chapter shall we? For the angsters, don't worry, I have not yet begun to torture yet and you never know who my next victim will be, muah, ah, ah, ah!
Note: No, Nadina is not really a succubus, it is just a pet name.
***
'Quel undome, adar Good evening, father
mellonamin my friend
ada dad (daddy)
*****
Thanks to everyone who reviewed chapter four, you make my day! And PLEASE *keep* reviewing, I appreciate it so much ; ) And see how fast this chapter was posted. I told you your reviews make the little review wizard climb out of the woodwork and whack me over the head whenever I'm not working on it. He's quite a motivator, as are you! Chapter six will be posted very shortly (considering it already partly written).
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Sprout - Thanks for your continued reviews, I enjoy knowing you like the story ; ) Please keep reading and reviewing, for my sanity. Wait a minute, when was I ever sane? Mmh. *Shrugs*
Karri - This one wasn't quite as intense as the last one, but I put a little humor in it for everyone. Does it ever seem to be peaceful at the Last Homely Home? I plan to step up the pace in the next chapter, which will be posted soon. Keep reviewing, I look forward to it! Thanks again.
Tithen Min - I'm glad you like the story, really!! Sorry about your stress level : ) I know what you mean, I've bit my nails through the hole story so far. But things aren't about to calm down for our heroes anytime soon *grins evilly*. How far do you think I can push them before they fall of the cliff, mmm?
tapetum lucidum - Glad your enjoying the story. I love Aragorn and Legolas fics also (can't ya tell?). They're my favorite two characters (I should get help). I have to admit I have not read the Mellon Chronicles, although I will try now. And I do try to consciously remember Legolas is an elf with great senses, I'm glad it seems to come across. An elf torture addict as well, uh? Well, I think I can accommodate you then. I really like Nadina and I personally don't think she will be able to keep her intangible nose out of our elf's business for long, do you? Later on I might just turn her loose and let her play. What do ya think? Boy, is Legolas lucky she's not alive anymore!
Jessica332 - Thanks a whole bunch for adding me to your favorites list !!!!!!! You made my day. *Big hug* Feel free to review or e-mail me with comments, questions, flame, corrections, or anything else you may wish to say at anytime. O.K. let me rephrase that. Please review! *Begs on hand and knees*