Thanks for being so patient waiting for this chapter. But I'm out of school for the summer now and I managed to pass all of my final exams. Unfortunately, it's not beta read so let me know if there are any errors, okay?
Also, you all have Stardust to thank for pointing out my spelling error in the previous chapter! ^^ A least, I know I do! But don't worry, it's all fixed now!
Thanks again for all of you who continue to read and review! I'll have a bit more time to write now, so as soon as the next chapter is done I'll post that one too. And now, onto the fic!
Landslide
By Nekomegami_chan
Nekomegami_chan@hotmail.com
Powdery snow swirled around the horses' legs, dusting them with white. The woods were alive with game around them. Quail scratched at the exposed roots of trees for bugs. Deer and elk passed close to the elves without fear.
Elrohir watched his father and Glorfindel through half lidded eyes. They rode on his right and a few steps ahead, though he noticed each of the elder elves glanced back at him frequently. On his left, Elladan rode level with him. His twin had tried to cut off Arod several times but the animal refused to be pushed away from Elrohir and hovered protectively by.
* * *
Elrond forced his gaze back to the path ahead. Elrohir grew worse with each passing hour that they did not find the blonde prince. He noticed that his son's breathing had become progressively shallower until now it seemed as if Elrohir were panting in pain. And with each little puff of breath that escaped into the cooling air, the twin's milky skin became increasingly pale. Pale but for the bright spots that lingered at the tops of his cheeks.
Scouts and Thranduil's dogs were constantly on the move, their calls to Legolas echoing through the thick air. They fanned out to the sides and rear of the main body of the elves, sweeping through the underbrush on foot and acting as a rear guard, though no one really expected to be attacked so close to Imladris.
"My Lord," Glorfindel said, obviously not for the first time by the lazy tone of his voice. "My Lord Elrond."
"I beg your pardon, Glorfindel," Elrond apologized, coming back to himself at once. "You were saying?"
Glorfindel eyed him with a little suspicion before continuing. "I was only noticing how different this scene is from when we started out, only three days ago. Then, everyone yelled out Legolas' name and Elrohir rode at the front, working his mount into a lather. Now he sways in the saddle and will not speak."
"I had just been meditating on those same thoughts, old friend," sighed Elrond.
Glorfindel nodded somberly," Yes, but what do you plan to do about it?"
"I know not," the dark haired lord replied, rubbing his forehead. "I know not."
* * *
Thranduil nudged his mount into a trot and the rest of the party picked up their pace as well. It was getting on into twilight and they still had several leagues to cover if they were to reach Rivendell ere night fell. Elrohir let his horse bear him along in silence. He desperately fought against the urge to weep. He longed to be held by his father and brother in the privacy of their apartments and to be comforted. Yet he knew that even that was beyond his reach now. He had inherited his sire's stubborn pride, the same that had gotten him into this mess in the first place.
His thoughts turned abruptly from his own suffering to Legolas'. His most pressing fear was that his beloved was still alive somewhere in these woods, unable to cry out for help. And if he was dead...Elrohir's hands shook as the morbid images of what might have been paraded past his inner eye. Legolas had been injured; had he been in much pain?
Despite his efforts, tears long unshed spilled gracefully from Elrohir's dark eyes. He was thankful for the braids at his temples which helped to hide his face. Legolas! His heart sobbed in his chest, throbbing painfully. He had been harsh with his lover before they had last parted. He regretted to the innermost depths of his soul each and every syllable he had uttered that day. Not one word had been of support or love. He had been so frightened, so terribly afraid and then he had withdrawn. He hadn't even said farewell! He had foreseen doom, but when Legolas had survived the quest to destroy the One Ring, Elrohir had not tried to contact him at once like he should have. His sensitivities had been bruised when Legolas had swept aside his sincere requests like so much chaff. It had taken a powerful dream to convince him that it was time he let go of his pride and remind Legolas of how much he still cared.
And now...it was too late.
With a stifled moan Elrohir lowered himself to his horse's neck, her mane quickly becoming wet with his tears. They broke forth like water from a winter weakened dam. He could feel his heart shattering as he sobbed, every fiber of his being consumed with grief for his lost love.
Some part of Elrohir was disgusted with his weak behaviour. He was a hunter, a trained fighter and a prince of elves! To be reduced so thoroughly in front of others was unbecoming and lacking in strength of character. To have negatively affected his family was an even worse offense. The look of concern in his brother's eyes was chilling as Elladan dismounted and came to pull his twin into his arms. Little did Elrohir know that the haunted expression that he saw was merely a poor reflection of his own haunted face.
Thranduil called a halt, cutting off Elrond and swiftly covering the short distance to where Elladan cradled his brother. "How dare you!" he roared. "You act as if it were you who was dying, not /my/ son! I'll give you a reason to cry..." Thranduil threatened, preparing to backhand Elrohir.
Elrond caught the blonde king's hand as it descended in a leather clad arc then shoved him backwards and away from his children. "Do not ever raise a hand to me and mine again, Thranduil, unless you want to incur the fullness of my wrath!" Elrond growled menacingly.
The king of Mirkwood snarled back, "If it were not for you and yours I would not be grieving for my youngest child you half-breed imbecile!"
Before the two lords could come to blows Glorfindel leapt between them with a mighty shout. The Eldar's hair and cloak fanned out around him and he radiated a shimmering white aura of immense power. All movement stopped and the air of the forest grew heavy with waiting.
"That is enough!" Glorfindel declared his anger and its luminescent expression fading quickly. Satisfied that he now had everyone's full attention he continued, his voice softer, but still with the firm edge of a father disciplining his rambunctious sons. "Thranduil, you are a good king and a loving parent - but do not blame others for what is the fault of none. I think that you owe an apology to everyone present."
"I will not be ordered about, not even by the likes of you Glorfindel!" Thranduil sneered the Eldar's name. "I am righteous in my retribution, this one," he pointed an accusing finger at Elrohir who watched the scene from behind glassy eyes, "this one corrupted my son! Turned his innocent and youthful infatuation into an abomination!"
Elladan was shocked. He had always known the Mirkwood king to be outspoken and somewhat harsh in his words yet he found himself appalled at the serious charges Thranduil now heaped upon his brother's head. Corruption of the young was a crime punishable by banishment. He was far more surprised by what happened next. The weight of his brother's body left him abruptly as Elrohir staggered to his feet.
"I did no such thing!" Elrohir shouted, his tears of grief now mingling with those of anger. "I love him! And he loves me as well! I have never - " Elrohir paused in mid-sentence, his mouth closing with a small choked sound. He stared beyond Thranduil's right shoulder and hesitantly took a half step forward on shaky knees.
"Elrohir?" Elladan whispered.
With a pained and wordless cry Elrohir pushed past the blonde king, past Glorfindel and his father. Finding new strength he picked up speed until he was sprinting down the narrow forest track. Something quickened inside his chest and he felt his head clear somewhat.
Elladan rose as well, moving to stand beside Elrond. "By Elbereth!" he swore softly, his spirit lifting. "Father! It's him!"
The rest of the elven party watched with baited breath as Elrohir slowed and embraced another figure silhouetted black against the dying sun. The two bodies in the distance melted together and for a single, long moment all who watched sighed in relief. But that relief was to be regretfully short lived as one of the figures crumpled, dragging both to their knees.
Then came the hoarse wail that once more launched the world into motion around them. "Ada! Come quickly!"
* * *
**EVIL LAUGHTER**
Please don't forget to review. I hope you all liked this chapter. I wrote it in just two nights, a record time for me!
If enough people are still interested after the next few chapters than I could easily be persuaded to write more with this pairing. What do you think? I have some other stories connected to this one rampaging through my head. ^^
Love 'ya all! Bye bye!
