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Disclaimer: See previous chapter.
A/N: One more chapter until the end... I would like to thank the following for reviewing:
danceingfae - Luckily, I didn't end there. Hehe... That would be horrible and require a sequel for the story. Thanks for reviewing!
WeasleyTwinsLover1112 - Haha, sorry if the slime was nasty. I was thinking of what a dementor looked at the moment but I know the slime thing didn't really fit with a dementor but I needed to change it a little. Thanks for reviewing!
fireball - I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thanks!
Legolas Lu - Yes, Legolas defended him. I thought it was cute and nice developement for their friendship. Thank you for reviewing--twice! Hehe.
-Chapter Eight-
Mornar
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The faint sweet, coppery smell of blood filled his nostrils. Legolas ran passing the dark mysterious trees. The light of the Silmaril guided his way through the forest, his heart pounding.
He stopped suddenly, staring down in horror at the ground. Blood was splattered on the ground and Estel lay, eyes closed, face pale. His arms were slashed and a long, deep gash was on his face.
Legolas's eyes snapped open and he shot upright, looking around, breathing heavily as cold sweat dripped from his face. He winced slightly and touched his ear gently.
The light pouring into the room blinded him and he squinted at the open window, a cool summer breeze making its way inside, gently caressing his face and lifting his golden hair.
He looked around wildly, searching for Estel's pale, deathly face. He stared at the bed across from his own where a still figure lay. The covers were pulled over his chest but did not cover his face.
He blinked at Estel, his face impassive and thoughts were coursing through his mind.
"Hello, Legolas. I see you have awoken," a voice said startling the Elf. "Your father has never left your side."
He turned his head to the doorway where Lord Elrond stood clad in red elegant robes. A smile was on his fair face and a twinkle was in his eye.
"He will live," he continued, studying Legolas's face.
"Who?" Legolas asked, lowering his eyes.
"Estel," Elrond answered. "He is injured, poisoned heavily..." He closed his eyes and opened them again, revealing fear.
There was an uneasy silence in which the Elf Lord broke. "But you must have some questions to ask," he continued.
Legolas nodded and Elrond drew a breath. "Glorfindel realized at once you were in the forest," he said with much difficulty. "And we searched for you, called your name..." His usual calm voice was shaking and cracked as he continued.
"And the darkness had dampened our spirits and hope. I saw images of Estel dead before my eyes and I began to despair... But voices answered us, panicked yells."
"We ran toward the yells and we hoped to see your faces. And we heard terrible shrieks that almost made our ears bleed... And we feared we were too late until we found you on the ground beside a puddle of blood..."
A sob rose in Elrond's throat and he trembled. Legolas could almost see it clearly again. The creature's grey, bumpy skin, the insane gleam in its deadly eyes...
The blood...
"And we brought you here where we treated you. Estel had suffered many deep cuts and it was a while until we realized they were poisoned. And your ears were bleeding but we healed them as well as we could. The pain should fade after a few days... But your cut was poisoned also but it was easily healed."
Elrond adapted his calm tone of voice again and his trembling had subdued.
"What happened to the creautre? The Silmaril?" Legolas asked quickly.
"We did not see any trace of a creature nor a Silmaril," Elrond said simply. "Rest for now and worry no more. It is over." He left quickly and closed the door behind him.
Legolas furrowed his brows. He had seen the creautre clearly and he held the Silmaril.
Why had they disappeared?
That remained a mystery.
And after a few weeks, Legolas began to recover, his ears were healed, his cut faded, leaving only a scar on his arm. His cuts had healed but a mark still remained in his heart, unable to be healed. The pain he had experienced...
* * *
Elrond sighed heavily and felt the summer breeze whip through his dark tresses. He stared down from the balcony, staring at Legolas who sat in the gardens among the glowing flowers.
Then he stared at the dark forest with a grim smile on his face. The memory of Mornar was fresh in his mind.
He had once been his friend, his advisor. And he had died, he had earned his wish to rest in peace. He knew he deserved to be honored, to rest in peace...
His body had faded from this world but Elrond had a feeling he had not left. He had left a mark of himself behind.
And a star in the sky twinkled in approval as though Mornar had spoken to him. Elrond raised his hand and whispered a few chosen words in Elvish.
"May the light of the stars guide you, my friend."
He lowered his hand and watched Legolas leave the gardens silently before turning away from the dark sky.
A/N: So we learned about Mornar. He was orginally Elrond's friend and advisor until he found the Silmaril in which he turned into that creature Legolas and Estel encountered a few good times.
This is not over yet and I expect you to review and tell me what you think! :) If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer. Some of this is supposed to be shrouded in mystery and for you to make it up on your own so I will only answer those I can.
