Journey into darkness- Ch.4

Disclaimer-Don't own LOTR...damn...Do I have to keep typing this every time? Isn't once enough??

Warnings-I'm hoping you've read the first chapter, so you should know them by know. Blah, blah.

PLEASE read and review. LOL. BTW, 16 reviews!! That's more than I've ever gotten on a story, and in only 4 chapters! Y'all are the greatest! ~sniffs~

Thanks you's at the bottom, along with excuses for my tardiness. ~shrugs sheepishly~

This chapter dedicated to: Legolin, Mel, Cheysuli, and Shandrial. You have all helped me one way or another, and have actually inspired some really great, angsty plot twists for the future. Thanks you for all the great info you supplied me with, and the encouragement to continue! Also, to Hikari, Legolin and Tithen Min...you put me on your favorites list, and that means more to me than you can know. Thank you. This chapter is dedicated to you three as well. ^-^x

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"I am so sorry. Sometimes I wish I could just let go. Fade." Long, bony fingers, emaciated by a lack of nourishment, brushed hair out of identical faces. Elrohir stared. Dark blue veins stood out like some sort of hideous marble in digits that had used to remind him of white petals, or snow. Yet those hands had once been warm. Not marred with scars that showed a faint, ironically healing pink. Yes, healing was taking place outside, but within her, the wounds festered. Within the twins, new wounds burst open. That same voice spoke up, a quiver tinging it. "You are the reason I go on. I love you all so much. Please try to understand."

A groan rose from the figure in the chair. It was the groan of a wounded soul. Behind the slumped Elf, another Elf stepped forward. Glorfindel dropped to his knees, and placed arms clad in a blue-gray tunic about his closest friend. The window had been cracked open a bit to let in the fresh, cool breeze that occasionally stirred outside. It agitated the lace curtains. A bit of gray light crept in turning Glorfindel's hair a dull grayed blonde. Elrohir was reminded of the white curtains in the attic, after they hadn't been dusted in awhile, and the sun came through. He buried his face in Elrond's shoulder from behind for an instant, but raised it as the light hit him. The tears that fell on the blonde's cheeks made Elrohir want to be sick. Elladan, feeling his brother stiffen, turned his face from his mother's sickly one, and followed his brother's gaze. Angered at the tears glistening on both his beloved mentor's, and his ada's, face, he leapt off the bed, enraged. How dare his mother cause so much pain? She was nearly healed, wasn't she? Elrohir braced himself. He knew his twin, his other half. He knew what the reaction would be.

"No you don't! If you really loved us you wouldn't leave! But you don't care!" Elladan raced toward his shocked father, and reached out to Glorfindel. The golden haired Elf was still sitting on the floor, beside his father. The child let his small hand trace the path the tears had taken, though the paths were cold. Glorfindel's eyes softened as he met the child's stricken face. Glorfindel's much larger hand covered Elladan's tiny one.

"Don't child. Don't." It took Elladan a moment to understand what Glorfindel was referring to. It wasn't just his behavior. He knew he was acting childish, and immature. But part of him thought that maybe if he made his mother hurt as much as he was, as much as his daddy and Glor were hurting, then she might stay. It was a selfish attempt to keep his family whole, but it was the only idea he could come up with. Glorfindel was pleading with him to still his tongue, and not speak anything he would regret saying. He couldn't just let his family disintegrate, though. He felt his father wiping the tears from his face, and he dimly realized those anguished sobs he was hearing were coming from himself. Before he lost his ability to speak he whipped around and screamed at his mother once more. "You've NEVER cared!" Elrohir couldn't take it anymore. He released his stranglehold on his mother's gaunt waist. He was at his brother's side in an instant, and had arms meant to restrain as much as comfort about him.

"'Dan!" Elrohir whimpered out, pleading with his hurting brother. He pushed his face against his brother's hair, and started weeping softly. Elladan wrapped his brother in an answering hug, released him, then turned on his heel and raced from the room, ignoring his family's tears, and his father's pleading call.

Elrohir's last memory of the day was GLORFINDEL moving to embrace him as he began wailing in earnest, and being rocked in his mentor's arms. His father had dropped numerous kisses to his hair, then moved to his mother's side. He had gently squeezed his wife's hand, and bent to speak softly to her.

"It's alright Cel. He's hurting. We love you so much. All of us."

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Elrohir awoke in the cave he and his brothers had been resting in. They had to clear a few wargs out, which had earned Estel a nice cut along his arm. Thankfully the wound had been nowhere near as bad as it had looked. After his father had left on THAT day, he'd hunted down Elladan. They had comforted each other for the better part of the day. In the days, months, years that had followed, Elladan had thrown himself into his training, as had Elrohir, and Glorfindel had been more than ready to assist them, when he hadn't been tending to their father. Elrohir stretched and made his way to where his brother's were making a hastily thrown together meal.

Elladan met his brother's eyes. "You were dreaming of mother." It was not a question, it was a stated fact. Estel's gaze focused on the twins. His Elven brother's rarely spoke of their mother, but he knew the story. Elrohir's dark gaze met his brother's, never wavering.

"Aye." Elladan took a seat in between his siblings. Elrohir had made it perfectly clear he didn't want to speak of his dream.

The young ranger scooted a ways away from the Elves, and peered into the fire. It was as thought he somehow thought the flames would materialize into the young prince. Elladan bent closer to Elrohir, a map held in his hands.

"I've been keeping an eye on the direction these orcs have been marching in. Perhaps we can guess at where they are going to end up. We know this land better than they do. We can take a shortcut through and head them off." The firelight reflected in Elladan's eyes, making them seem to glow. There was nothing either of them loved more than slaughtering a band of orcs.

"Good idea." Elrohir took a bite of bread that he'd pulled from his pack, and smiled at his brother. He then watched as his twin trailed a finger along an invisible route.

"Now, 'Ro, what direction have they primarily been traveling in?" Elladan leveled his stare at his brother.

Elrohir's bite turned into a lump of ashes in his mouth. No. This could not be right. They were heading East. So far they'd skirted along the realm of Lothlorien.

"Do you think they'll cross the Anduin?" He asked softly.

Elladan shook his head, and brushed his hair from his face, his movement leaving a slight smudge on his brow. "I can only hope this rain will have slowed them down, and perhaps swelled the river a bit, to make it too dangerous to cross." He made to wipe his hands on his pants, and frowned at the mud splattering them. Riding hard in the mud was never a great idea and usually left one as filthy as a farm animal. "We've left an easy enough trail for Glorfindel to follow though." The sons of Elrond had been tearing small strips of their cloaks to hide within the leaves, leaving them visible enough for Elven eyes, along with other small signs. They had decided that their father had undoubtedly sent his best friend and Captain of his army, and likely the majority of the Imladris guard, as well. Elrohir nodded and took a sip from his water skin.

"Do you think Ada will journey with him?" Elrohir queried again.

"I suspect he may have. Erestor can take care of Imladris well enough. Besides, I hope he has. Something doesn't feel right 'Ro. It feels different from when mother..." Elladan trailed off, his voice gritty.

"Do you think evil is growing in the Mirkwood, and that is where they head?" Elrohir's thoughtful gaze turned inward, his statement voicing their worst fear.

"Maybe something more is heading towards Mirkwood than Orcs and Wargs." Elladan mused aloud.

"The darkness is thick in Mirkwood,"Estel's voice startled the two Elves. "But why Legolas?" Elladan and Elrohir were stunned at the open, bitter anger in the young ranger's voice.

"Why not Legolas? The darkness and evil in the world rarely thinks on a target. It attacks without mercy or compassion, caring nothing for others. It cares only for destroying what is good and pure. We can only do our best to fight for the light." Elrohir smiled to hear his father's words repeated from his brother's lips.

"And fight I shall." Elrohir's grin grew. Estel was every bit as impulsive, and fiery as Elladan, unknowingly echoing his brother's same declaration.

"And fight WE shall, my very little brother." Elladan corrected with a scowl. Estel glowered at his oldest Elven brother, his eyes promising a very painful revenge. Elladan just smirked, arrogant as ever.

"Yes, fight we shall." Elrohir echoed.

~~~~~~~tbc

EEEK! I am so freaking sorry! School has been so difficult! I'm taking accelerated summer classes, and I'm really having some trouble. Two sciences and a math, which is almost funny, b/c I SUCK at math and science, and I HATE them, but I ended up saving them for the very end. LOL, lets hear it for procrastination. Needless to say it wasn't my smartest move. So, I am so sorry for taking so long. I hope you can understand. If I could choose to do nothing but sit on my butt and read and write fanfic all day I would, but unfortunatley, I don't have that luxury. Thanks for being patient! ^-^x I'll write some more and update when I can!

Replies to reviews:

Tithen Min- Eek! Please don't scold me too harshly! I'm sorry about the delay...eh...heehee...~ducks behind Leggy, and points at Tithen~ HIDE ME! Thanks for your kind words! People like you make me want to write more! ~is hoping she pacified you enough~

Cheysuli- Thanks for putting me on your author alerts! You are too kind to help me find all that info. You've helped me more than you can guess.

Saint- An AA is an Associates of Arts degree. It's for the non math and science majors. You get them from Community Colleges. I figured I'd start there and get my feet wet with the whole college thing. I've preferred it because apparently it's supposed to help prepare you for a regular university! Yes, there shall be some Elrond torture in later chapters, just for you. Any preferences? Ok, I'll try and write longer chapters, but with fewer updates.

Shandrial- I definitely need help with this whole Gondolin thing...where was Gondolin anyway? And why was Glorfindel protecting it?? I swear I'm trying to read some of the other books, (yes, I've read the unfinished tales, for the most part, and part of the Silmarillion, and the hobbit...and the trilogy), but....~sighs~ Anyway, thanks for the reviews. It's a total confidence/ego booster!

Tinuviel Greenleaf- Thank you so much for the correction! Sorry! I was half asleep when I typed that, (and this), up... Thank you for reviewing as well. Makes my day!

Ankhesenamun- Are you trying to kill Leggy? LOL, that wasn't a review, as you said, so you must want me to kill Leggy! How cruel! ^-^X Thank you for the non-review though!

Legolin- Thank you for all the info! LOL, evil duck tape....what's wrong with talking about Lord of The Rings? ~is confused~ I do it all the time! ^-^x Anyway, as I've said, I'd be honored for you to beta. I'll bet you'd have a ton of grateful people! Thanks for the review!



Hikari- Thank you so much for the kind review! (And the review on my other fic, Journal) It's always nice to have a constructive review. I try and keep my writting simple, lol, though I realize I am challanged when it comes to grammar and spelling. LOL, without spell check I would be in so much trouble! Thanks again for reading nad reviewing. Hope to see ya back! :-)



Anyone I missed....I am so sorry! It's late as I type this up, so.... Yell at me in a review, and I'll type you an extra long one next chappie, ok?

Special thanks-

Mel- I am so indebted to you! You are an angel! Thank you for the numerous emails that took you hours to type up, the ideas you gave me, and all the information that has played a huge part in shaping my plot and enriching it. I hope you feel better! ^-^x