Author's Notes: Notice how as we near the climax the flashbacks and scenes are getting smaller and smaller..? Heheh..
What Lies Within
by Fairy Laughing with help from TC
/ "Fortune, fame
Mirror vain
Gone insane
But the memory remains./
Metallica - 'The Memory Remains'
Chapter VII: Escape into the Night
"I believe it is safe to untie him." Aidan said, gesturing to Elladan expectantly, "Elrohir."
Elrohir inclined his head to his master and went to unbind Elladan's wrists from the rock he had been tied to, helping his twin to stand.
Aidan carefully examined his new fledglings, nodding in approval, "You shall lure the prince to me."
- - -
"We must go and find my brothers!" Estel insisted, even as Legolas pressed the human back onto his bed.
"I do not see how we can defeat a vampire... much less two."
"Elladan's time is running out!"
"He was probably already taken by them. I am sorry."
Estel would not budge from his resolve, "Listen, the books said that this could be reversed by destroying the maker... within an amount of time of their making. If we could destroy the original, Elrohir would be well."
"And Elladan?" Legolas said, "We do not know if Elrohir has... altered him or not."
"We can only hope, but neither is benefiting from us doing nothing here!"
"How do you propose that we destroy this... Aidan?"
"I think, from studying these records, that beheading would work. That is what takes place in this story at least..." Estel held up a book, allowing Legolas to see the quenya words describing the defeat of a vampire in the First age.
Legolas sighed, "Listen, Estel, there is a chance that this will work. A very good chance. But us rushing in without knowing more or having a sure way to defeat them is foolish."
"But 'Dan.. and 'Ro.."
"Listen." Legolas levelled his head near Estel, whispering like a conspirator, "My adar is planning something; I know him. He defeated Aidan last time, but did not fully kill him. This is his unfinished battle."
"But we must go now." Estel whined, "Please?"
"My adar has it all under his control, if you do not go to sleep, I will get Celvandil to make you some tea, and force you to drink it myself."
"Tea?" His eyes widened in horror. "I shall be good and go to sleep."
"Truly?"
Estel laid back down and pulled the coverlets over his head, pretending to snore, "I am sleeping. Sleeping.. sleeping.. not awake."
Legolas shook his head and turned off the lamps, leaving the room in search of his father, for they had much to discuss.
- - -
The king, meanwhile, was in his study. Books and scrolls with recounts from the Last Alliance were spread across his desk, and more haphazardly strewn on his shelves and floor. Thranduil leaned back in his seat, no longer granting his attention to written words. Lamplight spilled across the room, and fell in a sliver in the corridor from the door that was just a tiny crack open.
- - -
Thranduil had passed several days in Adain's custody now, and he had witnessed the elf's transformation. He watched as another came, on black wings, and left the same way moments later, leaving Aidan sleeping for an entire day. When he awoke, he was changed; he had been born into darkness.
Gone was his sense of loyalty in the Dark Lord, replaced with a desire for power of his own. Tension began to build, and Aidan kept speaking of what would take place after the Dark Lord had won over the free peoples. Then it would be his turn to take control. Hostility continued to mount, and Thranduil found himself dragged into a battle that his father did not believe was his people's to fight.
"Tonight, tonight the battle will be held." Aidan said, strapping armour onto himself, "Then we shall see just how quickly your dear ada comes running to save you, spoiled little prince."
Thranduil could do nothing more than glare spitefully at Aidan, saving his strength for the upcoming battle.
- - -
"Adar, are you well?" Legolas asked, hastening to his father's side.
Thranduil nodded, "Sorry. I was simply lost in memories."
"Aidan?" Legolas asked simply, receiving a nod.
"So do you have an idea as to how to defeat him?" Legolas asked, pushing aside some scrolls to clear himself a seat.
"Indeed, I think I might have..."
- - -
In the dark, warm chamber, one grey eye popped open. Valar, his head ached! But he knew what he had to do. Estel sat up, listening for several moments until he deemed it safe to get up. He changed quickly, and wrote a note to Legolas so that he would not think he had been kidnapped. The note read as follows:
Legolas,
Went to find my wayward brothers.
Will be back by dawn!
-Estel
"Back by dawn... that is what he thinks." Legolas muttered, quickly running back to where his father was in his study, speaking with Celvandil.
"Estel has escaped into the woods!"
Celvandil groaned, "Daft man-child..."
"You are telling me this and then going to pursue him, correct?" Thranduil asked his son.
"Yes."
"And there is no way I could persuade you otherwise?"
"Nay."
"Then please, please... be careful. I will give you a guard with as many as you need."
"I will put no lives besides my own at risk," Legolas said, "Besides, I travel faster alone."
Closing his eyes, Thranduil sighed. He knew that Legolas was a capable warrior, but facing two, possibly more vampires alone... it was reckless and probably would not work.
"I shall accompany you."
Legolas blinked at his father a few times, taking this information in, "It is your battle to finish."
Thranduil nodded, getting up to arm himself.
Celvandil looked at him, her expression horrified, "But my liege!"
"Listen," he silenced her, "I have sent a message to the Lady of the Golden Wood. When my falcon returns with her reply, send the falcon back to me with it."
"We will be along the Old Forest road, just east of it. The falcon will be able to locate us, no doubt." Legolas told her.
"Mirkwood will survive without us for a little while. If Elrond found out about all three of his sons being captured, it would be liable to start a war."
Celvandil nodded, sitting back; this was the only way it was going to work.
- - -
Estel was already leagues into the woods, but found that he had lost his way. His head still ached from the previous injury, and the cold was making it difficult to think. Mirkwood was not called Mirkwood for nothing either, and a thick fog had again crept upon him, seeping in to his chill his bones as he wandered.
Suddenly, a figure jumped from the tree above directly into the path in front of him. Said figure raised his head, and Estel immediately recognized him, "Elladan!"
Another figure dropped gracefully behind him, his feet muffling in the snow, "I am Elladan, that is Elrohir."
Estel turned around, backing against a tree between the two of them. He noticed the wings, similar to what Elrohir had the night before, on Elladan. His voice laced with fear, he stuttered, "What are you doing?"
"Retrieving the bait..."
- - -
To be continued...