Thanks for all of the reviews everyone!! This chapter is dedicated to all of you who bothered to take the time to tell me what you thought. It seems several people enjoy my writing style, so if you're interested you might want to check out some of my other stories here on ff.net.
I warn everyone in advance though, the dreaded Final Exams of DOOM will be arriving shortly and the next update may not be for a week or so. So I apologize up front. ^^
As always, thanks for reading and please review!
Landslide
By Nekomegami_chan
Nekomegami_chan@hotmail.com
Chapter III
Well, I've been afraid of changing 'cause I built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older
I'm getting older too
Well...
Legolas dropped off to sleep, his eyes sliding shut in his exhaustion. Yet his dreams were troubled, and the dreams of elves are memories as vivid as their reality. He dreamt of the last time he had seen Elrohir.
* * *
Elrohir pushed away from the bookcase in his personal study at Imladris. His delicate features were tight with worry and anger. His milky skin was flushed across the nose and cheeks, dark eyes alight.
Legolas silently perched on the edge of Elrohir's desk, his arms folded across his chest. The dark-haired elf now glaring at him from room's center was a beautiful creature, intellectual yet passionate. The Rivendell elf was as fleet as an elk and a natural hunter with the finesse of a great cat. Regardless these skills, his book learning rivaled that of Elrond. Legolas loved and admired him; even adored him.
They had come to know each other over a great many decades. And as such, they had first developed a steadfast respect for one another. A respect that had gradually deepened, flowering into the love they shared today. Legolas laughed and Elrohir shook his head every time they reminisced about their first acquaintances. Neither had much liked the other in the beginning.
But Legolas was not laughing now. Nor did Elrohir smile and shake his head. The atmosphere in the elegant little study was as ripe with tension as a bowstring ready to fire.
When Elrohir began to speak his usually lighthearted voice was clipped and almost pained. "Do you want me to kneel and beg, Legolas? Do not fear for your honor, I will explain to Father that you spoke with the enthusiastic rashness of youth; he will understand and aid you in finding another worthy to take your place in the Fellowship! Only please, do not go! Do not do this!"
Legolas crossed his arms over his chest. His heart ached to see his lover so distraught, but he held his ground. "No, Elrohir. Never must you beg at my feet. However, I have pledged my bow to he who is to bear the One Ring to the fires of Mount Doom and I intend to see him through. I am to be the eyes and ears of the Fellowship. I will suffer no other to take my place. I know that I am young, but by the reckoning of one such as Glorfindel or Galadriel so are you. I did not speak rashly nor without thought."
Elrohir felt defeated and tired but none of it was evident in the twin's noble bearing and countenance. "I fear for you."
Moving to stand directly in front of Elrohir, Legolas replied softly. "I know. But I fear more for the fate of Middle Earth."
For long moments, Elrohir said nothing. His gaze turned inward and Legolas wondered what he saw. Elladan had inherited their father's skills as a healer, but Elrohir had something of his grandmother's gift in him.
"What did you foresee?" Legolas asked when the son of Elrond came back to himself.
Elrohir paled but for the bright spots colouring his cheeks. "The visions were not clear, but I saw such horrors; images of death through a screen of darkness and fire!" He blinked and heaved a sigh, the last vestiges of his clairvoyance falling away.
"Leave this!" Elrohir exclaimed and Legolas became uneasy at the sight of his lover so near to despair. "Come away with me! Sail with me to the Undying Lands! Elladan has heard the first stirrings of the call but hesitates to leave without me. But where my brother goes, so too must I. I do not wish to be separated from you, my love. Not even so long as it takes you to feel the lure of the sea. And should you find yourself at the gates of the Halls of Mandos, I will soon follow and probably my brother after me."
Legolas impulsively took Elrohir by the shoulder and held him at arm's length. "I would not have both of your lives on my conscience. I promise you, I will do my utmost to come back whole. But I must go. Please understand, my love."
Elrohir stared past Legolas' left shoulder, not trusting himself to meet his lover's eyes. His voice was cold and distant when he spoke again. "Then so be it, Legolas, son of Thranduil. May the Valar protect you." Having said his peace, he placed chaste kiss on Legolas' unmoving lips. Then he exited the study, his heavy, embroidered robes dancing around his feet.
Elrohir had not come down to bid him farewell when the Fellowship departed the next morning. Legolas had seen him watching from the stable loft and inclined his fair head, but Elrohir had only wept wordlessly, angry and grief-stricken before disappearing from sight.
* * *
Somewhere far off the sun had begun its slow ascent and only then did Legolas realize how long he had spent dreaming. He was somewhat stronger now and he gathered himself to crawl stiffly out from under the protective arms of the pine. He touched the kind tree and thanked it once more for its protection ere he asked for a final favor.
Gaining the tree's assent, Legolas selected a sturdy branch close at hand and used one of his long knives to cut off the last elf-length of it. He then stripped the needles from the bark and used the makeshift staff to lever himself to his feet. Drawing in a shaky breath of the icy air, he caught his bearings and began the long trek down the mountain towards Rivendell.
