A/N) Thank you soooo much for the reviews! Sorry if the last chapter may have scared you a bit, but I wanted to explain what the spirit did to his victims and what he is partly capable of. I hope this chapter isn't that scary.
Phantom of Mirkwood
Chapter Three: The Cave
The four days passed in a flash of lightening and by noon on the forth day, the company was ready to leave Rivendell for Mirkwood. In that time Elladan had kept to his promise and so had Aragorn. Life had been relatively normal, though Elrohir had caught the 'glint' in his twins eyes and knew that he was up to something. Elrohir knew you couldn't get Elladan to keep a promise, especially if it meant leaving Estel alone. Elladan wasn't the type to forget a prank.
As they left Rivendell; Lord Elrond leading the others; Elrohir noticed Elladan muttering something to Estel's horse, and the elf realised that this was the joke the elf hoped to play on the human. It had happened before, but it had been Elladan who had been the one being joked upon. Estel had scared the horse that Elladan rode and in doing so made the horse buckle when it was forced to move. The result had been Elladan ending up with a broken arm. Elladan had not forgotten that incident, and now he was trying to do the same to his human brother.
"You know you really shouldn't do that." Elrohir said.
Elladan just smirked. "Little brother, I know what I am doing. It's just a joke."
"By trying to get the horse to kill Estel?"
"I'm not trying to kill him!" Elladan said, "I'm trying to injure him, so severely, that he won't do anything to me for a long time. It'll teach him to stop scaring me into water."
Elrohir just laughed. "Father would kill you if he knew what you were up to."
Elladan quickly climbed onto his own horse; as did Elrohir; and then Aragorn appeared walking quickly towards his own horse. He mounted it, and with that the company could truly set off.
Aragorn glanced at Elladan watching him closely. The elf seeing the human look at him turned to look back at what was ahead of him. Elrohir rode next to Aragorn and the human leaned across and said: "He's done something, hasn't he?"
"It's not my business to tell." Elrohir shrugged. "If I were you, I would say 'keep your eyes open'" With that the elf grew silence and Aragorn was left to contemplate by what he meant.
They rode for several hours before stopping for a brief lunch. After refreshing themselves with food, the company continued.
Aragorn was about to mount his horse when it buckled, rearing up on its hind legs and kicking out. The sudden movement caused Aragorn to fall to the ground. The horse leapt away, bounding past the stunned elves. The joke that Elladan had planned had not turned out well. The horse was now missing and all of the food that Aragorn had been carrying on his horse, was missing also.
Aragorn couldn't express his delight when Elladan had to admit to Elrond that he had tried to trick Estel. The lecture that had followed had been painful. Elladan had grown silent and seemed to cower under the wrath of his father.
Aragorn was now forced to ride with Elladan; a punishment for the elf. "Just you wait, human," Elladan growled, "I get you."
"Not if father is watching over me." Aragorn replied, a grin spreading over his face. "Remember Elladan you cannot kill me! I'm too important to mankind to simply die by your hand."
"Why do you have to be the heir to the Gondor throne? If you had been someone else of little importance, I would have throttled you by now!" Elladan muttered.
*****
The next few days passed quickly. The sun was shining high in the blue sky, and the wind howled from the west. The land before them was high, with many a mountains. Far in the distance they could see the lonely mountain. The snow sparkled from the top and a cold wind blew from the top.
On the eve of the tenth day from Rivendell the company reached the borders of the mountain. Here they rested for a day; giving the horses time to rebuild their strength. Elrond stayed at the camp tending the horses, while Elladan, Elrohir and Aragorn went exploring up the side of the mountain.
"Come on!" Elrohir shouted to Aragorn as he followed Elladan.
Aragorn breathed. The two brothers had led him up higher then he would've liked. It was colder here and narrower. One misstep could cause him to fall. He looked over the edge seeing the distance to the ground. He was high up, very high up. Sliding up against the wall, Aragorn continued to climb up. He would not show his brothers that he was afraid of a narrow path.
He soon rounded a bend, and the path became easier; and in the light snow that dotted around he could see his brother's footprints. Not far off he could hear their elven voices ring high. Show offs, he thought.
Quickly he rounded another bend and found Elladan and Elrohir dancing in the snow and singing in a loud voice.
They stopped when they spotted Aragorn staring at them with his arms folded and frowning.
"Hey, what took you so long?" Elladan asked, "Is little Estel afraid of heights?"
"No!" Aragorn replied, staring defiantly at the older twin.
"Oh, yes you are!" Elladan roared, "Why did it take you so long to get up here?"
With this Aragorn lunged at Elladan knocking the elf flat into the ground. He was just play-fighting but bearing in mind he was twenty-one and was still play-fighting with two elves who were over a thousand years old; it seemed that they were all children.
Elrohir watched intent as Elladan tried to grab the humans wrists, but Aragorn moved out the way. The human leapt to his feet; Elladan grabbed at his ankle and succeeded pulling Aragorn down into the snow. The human fell flat on his face. The minimal snow there was got into his mouth. He spat the ice from his mouth, and he felt Elladan grab him and turn him over onto his back.
With a force of strength Aragorn grabbed the elf's arms and flipped him over, landing the elf on his back. Leaping back up, Aragorn drew his sword and pointed it at Elladan. A smile crept onto his face. "Who's the one who can't beat the human who's supposed to be afraid of heights?"
Elladan sighed and rolled his eyes. "Me."
"Good." Aragorn said, stepping back and sheathing his sword. He pulled Elladan to his feet.
"You know, Estel, one of these days you are going to get yourself killed." Elladan said.
"So what?" Aragorn replied, "One of these days I will die. I'm a mortal; I am borne to die. You could be killed too."
"Yes, but we won't be." Elladan replied. "Elrohir and I are two of the best elven warriors in Rivendell."
"Don't be so sure." Aragorn said, "You don't know what may be lurking around the corner."
"Well, if I do die," Elladan began, "I will find someway to blame it on you."
"Do you always have to blame me for everything?"
"Yes. Humans are so easy to blame things on." Elladan replied, teasingly.
"All right! That is enough, you two! Much as it is fun seeing you two argue; I've simply had enough!" Elrohir replied. "I'm sure father agrees with me!"
Elladan laughed. "Fine! Come on, Estel lets go higher up!"
Aragorn only moaned.
*****
When at last the twins stopped running up the mountain cliff and Aragorn had caught up, the three of them settled down to eat and to drink. Once they had finished Aragorn began to climb up higher, leaving the twins alone to laugh. He carefully walked up the narrowing path watching his every step, when he spotted a cave hidden on the side of the cliff. It was well concealed by a mist that hung in the air, and the snow around it clouded the entrance up a bit.
On closer inspection the young man noticed that the cave was built into the cliff side and ran down into the mountain. His inquisitiveness got the better of him, and Aragorn began to walk into the darkened cave. His eyes quickly adjusted to the dimness and Aragorn slowly made his way - cautiously - down through the side of the cliff. He came to a dead end, and after poking around for a bit he found a crack in the wall that was big enough for him to fit through.
Looking around he could see torches floating ahead, and the path was lighted. He had descended quite away into the mountain and it seemed that he had walked right to the bottom of it. Not knowing whether to turn back or not, the young man carried on walking. He turned several corners till he came to cross roads and looking down each way, he took the left one, as it seemed brighter and less smelly. Even as he walked he could tell there was evil afoot.
Breathing slowly Aragorn walked carefully down the passage. He began to feel weary and drew his sword from its sheath. The walls were pitted with doors, but they were all open and empty. At the end of the corridor he came to a big wooden door, locked with big metal bolts slid across.
Pressing his ear up against the door, Aragorn could hear groaning from inside. Someone was in there and in pain.
*****
Legolas stood in the shades of Mirkwood, guarded by ten guards. He was on the look-out for Lord Elrond and his sons. The danger that this spirit possessed could threaten his friends and it was more likely that they were in trouble. None of the elves knew where the spirit was now. A few hours ago the spirit had attacked again taking a small elf child with it. No one had been able to save the child and the spirit had sped away from Mirkwood taking the child with it.
His worry about his friends and for the elf-child had caused the prince to gather a troop of guards and make their way out of the forest looking for any sign of his companions.
"Come," he said, "we must search for them."
Legolas led them out onto the plains away from Mirkwood and turning towards the mountains he began his search for Lord Elrond and his sons.
After much searching they finally came to Lord Elrond's camp where they met him.
"Where are your sons?" Legolas asked, concern dripping in his fair voice.
"They have gone exploring." Elrond answered, "Following the path up the mountain."
"Thank you." Legolas said, "You three, escort the lord Elrond to Mirkwood. The rest of us must go up. Forgive me Lord Elrond, there is danger in Mirkwood and we fear it may come to harm your sons."
"What evil is this?" Elrond asked; he was determined to not walk away while his sons might be in peril.
"Something that we have not encountered before," the prince answered, "I wish for you to go Mirkwood. If this thing is around then we must get all elves home, before anything happens. I fear with you coming here, your sons may be in danger. Please just go. Everything will be explained as soon as your sons return."
Rather reluctantly Elrond followed his escorts to Mirkwood. As soon as the elf had gone taking a horse with him, Legolas followed the path, taking the group behind him. Half-way up they came across Elladan and Elrohir who taking their advice proceeded down the cliff.
"Where is Strider?"
"Farther up." Elladan said, pointing up the winding cliff.
Legolas continued his trek up. The snow got heavier and he was following the tracks that the human had left. They soon stopped and Legolas found the cave that Aragorn had discovered earlier. Unsure of what to do the elf decided to wait for his friend to emerge: that is if he ever did.
*****
Aragorn carefully slid the bolts across from the door and opened the door. The moaning stopped and he looked into the room. His eyes widened as he saw to his horror a small elven child - a girl - probably about a hundred years of age, laying on the floor, tears flowing down her cheeks. She was surprised when he entered.
Aragorn sheathed his sword and kneeled down next to the elven girl. Her hands were tied with thick rope and she was dirty and blood-stained. Quickly he untied her hands and picked her up. She seemed to cower in his arms, but she grabbed hold of his overcoat, afraid that he might drop her.
Carefully, he peered out the door and jogging ran down the passage. He came to the cross-roads and turned right, and he followed the path, round several corners till he came to the slopping hill. Up ahead, just barely, he could see light shining through.
The girl gripped tighter on him, and he felt a tingle run up his back. Something was here. He was right, as a voice filled his ears. It was a terrible voice, raspy and black.
"So, a man dares walk here, taking my prize with it? Turn around and let me look at you before I kill you."
Aragorn turned to face a spirit, a dark evil thing, that floated in mid-air. He was glowing. The girl was now whimpering and Aragorn could feel her shaking. He stepped back. He could not draw his sword, and as he debated his options, the spirit flew at him, knocking him to the ground.
"Run!" Aragorn cried to the elven girl. "Get out of here!"
Without looking back, the elven girl ran up the slope as quickly as she could. Reaching the top she tumbled out into the light and into the snow. She was surprised to find elves there, all staring at her.
Legolas gripped the girl by the shoulders. This was the girl who the spirit had taken. He looked into her eyes and saw fear there. He pushed her towards one of the others accompanying him. "Get her safe. Tend to her."
The elf's thoughts were bent entirely on his friend. Something was wrong. Where was Aragorn? Ignoring his fear of the caves the elf prince plunged into the cave, searching for his friend. He was closely followed by his guards.
Far below him came the sound of a strangled scream and all was silent.
Heart beating fast, Legolas ran on and within moments he had reached the bottom of the sloping hill. There was no sound, and he could not find Aragorn any where. He heard a scream from behind him and saw two of his companions fall senseless to the ground. The spirit was here. There were only five of his companions remaining.
Another scream and only four of his companions were left. Desperately he searched, but he could not see the spirit anywhere. Then his eyes caught the spirit moving and the prince lunged at the spirit, tackling it to the ground. A forceful push sent the prince sprawling, and he crashed into the wall, hitting his head hard on the rock-face. Dizziness fell over him, and the spirit advanced on him.
As things looked their bleakest, Aragorn, bloody and holding his sword, pushed the spirit aside, sending the phantom away. Aragorn stood defiantly over the prince; protecting him. He was joined by the other four elves and they made a barrier between the prince and the spirit.
Cursing, Oronar shouted: "Just you wait! The prince will be mine!" Then he fled out into the open, and into the sky.
Aragorn turned back to the prince and before he could say a word, the human's legs buckled beneath him and he fell to the ground, unconscious.
TBC.....
Next chapter: The elves fight to discover what the spirit has done to Aragorn. Anyone wish to take a guess?