Okay, everyone, now for the new addition to Nefredal's FAQs:
WHAT'S UP WITH THRANDUIL?!
Answer: Thranduil, as we know, is drinking. Thranduil, as we suspect, may be taking Bengwiil. Thranduil, as we figure, is hurting. A combination of those three things, plush his elven emotions in general, plus an extra teaspoon or so of something I can't tell you, gives you this completely insane scene that you have just read in Chapter 6.
*grin*
And now for responses!
Halo: *rubs head* I say, that's no entirely kind. *gives Halo's Hammer of DOOM a whack* ;)
Lillian and Lime: LOL!! So glad you're enjoying it! I don't really speak MUCH Spanish, and I don't know Italian, but I'm fairly fluent in Elvish and Offengloffish! ;) I love languages, they're so awesome!
Lina: *glares at Eomer* Is there NO way to keep that thing away from Estel? I mean- she's got him eating grilled cheese for crying out loud! Estel: *blink* Well- what's wrong with grilled cheese? Eomer: *groans* it's not FUN following her around, you know… Me: *sigh* yeah, I figured as much. Well, fine then, ride south, but I'm telling you, she'll be back again come Chapter 8... Estel: But I LIKE grilled cheese… Eomer: Right, so- WE RIDE- eh… Me: South? Etel: West? Legolas: Grilled cheese…? Lina: Up? Eomer: Right you are- eh… Me: Chloe? Eomer: Right, of course. WE RIDE SOUTH!………Look what you've got me doing, Lina. ;)
Cassia: WOW, that worked uncannily well, Cassia! Awesome…*shivers* but that doesn't bode well for the fic that it goes with. *grin* oh GOODY! ;) It's okay, though, I'm having SO much fun with Traitor, I don't have a heck of a lot of time to worry about your next ones. ;) LOL! A record? HERE? *runs around ff.net calling; CASSSIA SET A RECORD ON MY FIC! CASSIA SET A RECORD ON *MY* FIC!!!* ;) Neat-o! It's okay if you can't keep it up, though, I understand you are a VERY busy person. It's a wonder you're still posting on Traitor! ;)
Nurnoleiel: You've read my reviews? Wow, thanks! I'm so surprised, I didn't think really ANYONE else read those but Cassia and Sio themselves. :D I liked yours too! Don't be hard on yourself, I liked it a lot. :D I'm so glad you're enjoying the story. And yes, there are some VERY bizarre pieces to it, aren't there? I do so enjoy putting them in though. Otherwise, people would get bored and leave. ;)
Jenny: LOVE the new name! It's really pretty! Yeah, as you can see, I got designated Chloe3, but ah well, 3 is my favorite number. ;) Make Thranduil right? Now where would be the fun of that? I've bothered to go and scare you, why should I ruin it? :P
Maranwe: Keep jumping at shadows, mellon nin! You keep landing pretty close now-and-then and it's always interesting to read what you think. :D Write insanity well? AW!!! You're so nice. :D
Gwen: Yeah. ff.net is kinda stinky that way, but I'm glad you could review!
Elfling: Thanks for pointing out the typos! The "burry" and "bury" is absolutely correct, I hadn't caught that, because "burry" is actually a word, but with a different meaning (as I'm sure you know). As for "dieing" and "dying", technically both are correct, but just like "all right" and
"alright", there's technically a right and a wrong one, and it seems I've been using the wrong one. ;) Thank you for reading so carefully, Elfling!
Ithildin: Don't worry, I understand that some people use those kind of words on impulse, even if they don't necessarily SAY them all the time. I've just never been one of those people, and I don't really like swearwords. But I'm glad that it's okay by you to keep them out. Thank you! :)
Hiro-Tyre: Welcome back! So great to see ya! :D AU? Well, maybe and maybe not. I suppose the whole "Bengwiil struggle" could be put in AU status, but not necessarily. There are several great battles of Middle Earth that might be hinted at in the Red Book but are never described by Tolkien. This could, after all, be one that was in there, but not even hinted at. As to Aragorn's status, you're right. Killing off a cannon character is AU. *shrugs* but it's not like I knew that that's what I was going to do at the beginning of the series, and it's look kinda funny having Iston(I know) a normal one, and then all of its sequels AU, wouldn't it? ;)
LegolasLover2003: LOL! Keep it up, it's always neat reading what you think will happen! In some places- close. In others…*grin*. But keep on guessing! The whole truth WILL be revealed by the end of the series, I assure you. :D
Elven Ice Angel: *claps* HAPPY BIRTHDAY- in six days. ;) Well, let's see…I guess I'll be posting Chapter 10 on your birthday then…Chapter 10...Chapter 10...oh. That chapter. *grin* Well, let us hope you have a very happy birthday, Bree, even if I can't come to the Australian party. ;)
Well, onto the chapter! Let us hope it clears up- at least one thing for you. *wink*
*****
Chapter 7
The Voice
Edren paced nervously, his hands shaking with barely controlled restlessness. After he'd heard the crashes in Thranduil's room, he almost ran into the dark bedroom anyway, despite what Legolas had said. But he'd controlled himself, and now waited anxiously for his friend's return.
Finally, the door swung back, and Edren went to it quickly to see his friend. Legolas walked wearily out from behind the door, and fixed Edren with tired eyes.
"Legolas!" Edren jerked his cloak from off his shoulder, and threw it around the prince. Legolas half smiled.
"I am well, Edren. Do not worry."
Edren's eyes flashed over the young elf's bruised cheek, bloodied lip, and bleeding forehead, and then swerved smoothly to observe the prince's wine-sodden clothes. "You are not hurt, but you are not well," he surmised flatly. "What happened in there?"
"Father, he's…been…he thinks he saw Naneth. He keeps crying for Meltha."
Edren knew as well as Legolas that Meltha had been Thranduil's personal nick-name for Legolas' mother. It was the Sindarin word meaning 'beloved'. Legolas always called her simply Naneth meaning 'mother'. But no matter what he called her, the pain of not having her was there, apparent, and had come at the worst time possible.
"It was familiar…again," Legolas sighed, rubbing his forehead softly.
Edren's eyes snapped to attention at this, and he stared a long moment at Legolas. "What seemed familiar this time?"
"Father, he…he'd had too much wine, and was a bit…a bit rough." Legolas shuddered. He didn't want to come out and say that Thranduil had in fact attacked his own son in his drunken state. But Edren knew, and he was watching Legolas more intently than the prince would have been comfortable with, had he chanced to look up. But he did not.
"He blamed me," he continued. "He blamed me for Mornaeg's death…and it- it was as if I had already killed him. As if I was getting blamed for his death…twice. Why would I have felt that way?" Legolas somehow felt that Edren held the answers, though he didn't know why he would. Somehow the feeling of understanding, a feeling Legolas was sadly lacking, seemed to emanate from elf's stare.
Legolas looked his friend in the eye a long moment. "Edren…if you know anything, I've a right to know as well."
Edren shook his head. "I know nothing," se assured hastily. "It is only strange."
Legolas clearly didn't buy that, but Edren hadn't expected him to.
"And then he said- he said the words I heard only in my nightmares. The ones that I had while infected by Bengwiil. He said: 'You do not know what you have done'."
Edren shook his head. "It was not your fault, Legolas, that Mornaeg died. Do not blame yourself."
The prince could only blink. He hadn't *been* blaming himself for Mornaeg's death. Edren had completely overlooked what Legolas had said.
Edren sighed angrily. Legolas had *just* gotten over Aragorn, and only barely. Thrandiul had *no* idea how much he was messing this up. And *he* had told Edren in the first place…now look what he'd done. Edren put these thoughts away, and turned back to his friend. "Come, we'll go back to Thernäd and my room."
"Your room?" Legolas asked, furrowing his eyebrows in almost drowsy confusion.
"Well, thanks to Mornaeg, we can't use your room until it is cleaned up. I've asked Daurrè to find someone to help with that. I hope you don't mind, I got a bit restless waiting for you, so I went and got Daurrè."
"No, no, of course I do not mind. And- hannon le." Legolas shook his head as he said the words, as though he wasn't sure what to say.
Edren only smiled.
The two went steadily down the hall, Legolas looking about him like he'd never been to the Halls before. Edren had to shake him more than once when the prince would stop dead in his tracks, and look over his shoulder, as if in a trance, at his father's door. Once or twice, he would even murmur. "It's familiar, Edren…it is…"
Finally, Edren could see the door to his home near the end of the hall. "Come, Legolas, we are almost there."
Legolas nodded numbly, and then stopped, transfixed.
Edren shook him again. "Come, Legolas, just a bit further. You need rest-"
"It's open," came the haunted reply. Edren looked over at his friend. Legolas stared, horrified, at an open doorway. "It's open…why is Aragorn's door open…"
Edren looked where the prince was looking, and realized that, yes, Aragorn's door was swinging wide open. "Legolas, please…" Edren tried to turn the young elf away, but Legolas moved away from him, still staring wide-eyed at the open door.
"Aragorn…" he breathed, and a look of both recognition and confusion crossed his face, as he took a few trembling steps towards the doorway.
"Legolas-" Edren watched the elf helplessly. "Legolas- don't go in there again!" But it was too late.
With a burst of energy Edren thought Thranduil had drained from his son, Legolas sprinted into the doorway, and stood in the dark room, panting. His eyes darted about the room, until they settled on the bed. There lay Aragorn…with a blanket over him. On either side of him stood two, confused-looking woodelves.
"Your highness." One bowed slightly to Legolas, but the prince did not notice him. He was still looking at the burlap blanket that covered Aragorn.
"W-what…wh-" But he couldn't find the words. He couldn't move. He could only hear…
He vaguely felt Edren rush up behind, and then beside him. "Legolas don't-" It was then that Edren noticed the two elves standing clueless on either side of Aragorn's covered form, and he was quick to ask the question Legolas' hadn't been able to get out. "What are you doing?"
"His majesty King Thranduil has commanded that the human be sent back to Rivendell to be buried. He believes it is Lord Elrond's wish it be done so," one of the elves responded, looking a little uncertainly at Legolas' shaking form, as his eyes danced over the prince's wounds and drenched clothing.
When Legolas heard this last comment, his eyes snapped up. "No!" he shouted suddenly, rushing forward, and placing himself between the elf and Aragorn's bed. "No, you can't take him!"
"Legolas-" Edren rushed forward as well, and tried to grab the prince, but Legolas dodged as he'd done in the hall. Edren held back rather than reaching for him again.
"I won't let you take Estel!" Legolas shouted at the bewildered elf.
Finally, the other elf responded, coming around the bed, and trying to get between Legolas and Aragorn. "It is your father's command, your highness. You may be prince, but he is king!" he shouted almost angrily.
"I don't care, I don't care what he said, he is out of his head! Just leave Estel alone!"
"Legolas, we have to send him back." Edren tried to be gentle as he pulled the angry elf away from the prince a little ways. "Think of Elrond. Think of his sons. Don't you think they want to see Estel again too?"
"Istón!" Legolas shouted, ripped between conviction and confusion. "And they shall! But not yet…not yet, we must wait…we must…" His voice trailed off in a slight sob. Not knowing what else to do, he sank down until he was sitting on the bed beside Aragorn. His eyes danced fitfully over the floor, as if he were listening to a conversation he didn't understand.
Edren finally turned to the two elves. "Please, give him some room. Why don't you come back later."
The angered elf took a resolute step forward. "We have been given orders by King-"
"King?" Edren spat. "We *have* no king, Garaer. Legolas is right…he is out of his head. He's drunk."
Garaer looked taken aback for only a moment, and then retorted, "You *dare* to speak so of the king?!" Turning hotly around, the ire that runs in the woodelves' blood rising to the surface in full, he marched to the bed and without a word, hoisted the limp form of Aragorn over his shoulder and made for the door.
Legolas' head jerked upright, and a cry of pain escaped his throat. "H-hauta! Please, don't!"
"Garaer!" Edren swung around, and landed himself between Garaer and the doorway. "I won't let you!"
"Then stop me-"
Edren was clearly not waiting for permission to do so, for before the words had finished falling from Garaer's mouth, he'd leapt around behind the elf, and held a small, elven knife to the his back. "Put the human down, Garaer."
"Edren, have you-"
"I said now!"
Slowly, Garaer complied, laying the covered human on the floor, and slowly standing up. "You will regret your treachery, Edren."
"Good," responded the other, putting his knife back in it's sheath, and walking around in front of Garaer. "Go tell our 'king'. Perhaps then you will listen to Legolas and I."
Without a word, the other turned abruptly, and fled the dark room.
Edren sighed, and turned to the other elf, who still stood transfixed and confused. "Here, my friend," Edren sighed, kneeling beside Aragorn's covered body. "Will you help me?" Slowly, the other nodded, and moved up next to Edren, slowly lifting Aragorn with him, and together they put him back on the great bed. "Hannon le," Edren sighed, and laid a hand on the helper's shoulder.
The elf did not respond at first, and then sighed, "I am with you, Edren. I have spoken to Thranduil." His eyes widened with fear, as he looked at Legolas again. He turned abruptly back to Edren. "Is that the king's doing?"
Edren glanced over Legolas' wounds again, and then nodded. "I am afraid he's quite gone."
"Clearly," the elf shuddered. "Well, anyway. I will speak to Garaer."
"You may if you wish, my friend, but I do not think he'll listen. He's never cared much for my opinion."
And with that the two nodded respectfully to one another, and the elf left the dark room. Edren watched him go, and sighed. Turning back to Legolas, he found the prince looking down at the floor in confusion.
"Legolas, I'm sorry that happened. It is all right n-"
"Sh…" Legolas hush trailed off as he continued to unconsciously scan the floor. Finally, he raised his head, and looked around. But not at Edren. His eyes flashed to where Aragorn lay, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. He stared at the limp form of Aragorn a long time, his eyes dancing back and forth once more. After a long pause, he whispered, "Yes."
"Yes, what?" Edren demanded, wondering why Legolas was acting so strangely. But the prince did not answer, only kept staring at Aragorn. Edren shook him gently. "Legolas?"
Again, the prince made no response, as a look of pain and guilt fixed itself on his face. Then, his eyes shut, and he smiled once more. He shivered with excitement. "Istón…istón…" he whispered, and leaned his head back.
Finally, he opened his eyes again, and raced to the doorway. "Where-" He stopped. Listened. Nodded. "Estel…" And with a shuddering sigh, he collapsed to the floor.
"Legolas?!"
*********
"Come, Legolas, we are almost there."
Legolas felt himself move. A nod was it? He was too numb to tell. Shaken visions of his father's anger and violence reverberated around his head. He couldn't understand why- oh, but it all confused him too much to even think about it. For a moment, his tired mind stretched to it's darkest corners, and it found a hopeful thought which it warmed him to toy with. What if Aragorn wasn't dead? What if he was waiting behind Edren's door, ready to reach out and touch Legolas again. What if Thranduil had been wrong when he said Aragorn would not awake? What if-
"Legolas?"
He stopped. He'd heard- no, he'd felt someone speak. Someone reach out and touch him invisibly. He stopped and stared. He thought he heard Edren murmur something, but he couldn't hear it. He could only see.
"It's open." The words meant only a little, but they carried reality with them. Legolas didn't know if he'd said them, or only thought them. Edren made no reply; he did not answer the question, so Legolas went on. "It's open…why is Aragorn's door open…"
He stood a long time, not even realizing he was still standing. He seemed to be still, steadied, and yet, not quite on his feet. It was like slipping through a dream.
"Legolas…"
The feeling hissed through him, around him, and echoed soundlessly off the walls. He didn't understand it…and yet, he knew…something about it was warm and familiar. And through sluggish lips, he breathed the answer. "Aragorn…"
Still in a trance, he felt himself moving unsteadily to the open door. Something within called him, beckoned him…and almost frightened him.
"Legolas- don't go in there again!" Edren's words faded from the prince's mind, and with an unconscious burst of speed, he made it to the door.
He found himself in Aragorn's room, sure enough. But as he looked around, he dimly noticed the form of his friend covered with a burlap blanket, and two elves standing with confused faces on either side of the corpse.
"W-what…wh-" He tried to speak, but the words drowned in his throat, and he suddenly heard another beckoning call.
"Legolas…"
His eyes darted to the bed. Aragorn?
He vaguely noticed Edren pushing past his shoulder, saying…something. He watched numbly as Edren addressed the two elves. He caught little at first. Then, "His majesty King Thranduil has commanded that the human be sent back to Rivendell to be buried. He believes it is Lord Elrond's wish it be done so."
"No!" The word seemed to fly from his mouth freely, as though his lips had been apart for so long, the sound just escaped. Running once more, the only thought in his head being Aragorn, he whirled around, putting himself between the elf and his friend. "No, you can't take him!"
Random thoughts shot through his head. He shouted a bit more…about not letting them take Estel. He didn't know what he was saying. He couldn't hear his own voice in his head. Only another…
"Legolas, wait…not yet, they must wait…"
His father. He was speaking about his father. "…he is out of his head!…" he heard himself say. His eyes darted about, searching for something…the source of this voice.
Edren was speaking of Elrond and his sons. Something…Legolas couldn't tell. "Istón!" he shouted, not really knowing why…he did know the essence of what Edren was saying…for the most part.
He felt his lips forming the words he'd heard in his head moments ago. "Not yet, we must wait…we must…" but he didn't understand the words. Frightened and confused, he felt his knees give way, landing him on Aragorn's bed. A warm feeling rush over him.
"Legolas…here, Legolas…mellon nin."
There was sweet familiarity about the words. Mellon nin. How long had it been since he'd heard these words said just that way? He realized suddenly he missed them. He looked off to nowhere, and tried with all his might to grip them. To hold onto them.
Suddenly, Legolas felt the bed shake, and realized that one of the elves was taking Aragorn.
"Legolas…no! Don't give up now!"
A cry wrenched itself out of Legolas' throat, and this time, he could hear his voice. "H-hauta! Please, don't!" His words seemed to burn in his ears. He screamed them as loud as he could. What could he do? He *had* to do something. He had to keep holding on…he didn't know…he couldn't understand…
Staring helplessly, he saw the elf carry Aragorn to the door.
"Legolas…Legolas please."
The begging voice ripped his heart in two, and yet, he couldn't make words come through his throat. He wasn't breathing anymore. His eyes darted between Edren and Garaer in confusion. What? The question rang in his head. A question of utter confusion and a desperation for understanding. What?
Finally, he realized Garaer had gone. Edren and the other elf were putting Aragorn back where he'd been. Legolas didn't watch Aragorn. Somehow, he wasn't there…not yet. Instead, he looked down at the floor, trying once again to place the voice in his head.
"Legolas? Don't be confused. I'm here."
Legolas continued to look down, bewildered. Where?
Edren began to speak again. Legolas suddenly caught his name, and realized his friend was speaking to him. "Sh…" He pleaded, straining his ears for sound once more.
"You ask who. You ask where. But you *know* who, Legolas…you know where. You've always known."
Slowly, Legolas turned, and upon seeing Aragorn's covered form, he felt himself nod vaguely. "Yes." was all he could say. Somehow, he *did* know. Yes. It was all that could be said.
"Ah, you know who. But do you remember where?"
No. He didn't. But he was desperate to. Quietly, motionlessly, a warm, shapeless hand reached over his lap, and massaged the place where Legolas' heart was beating.
"That is where."
Legolas felt fear and regret pierce him like an arrow, and almost shoved the gentle hand away. But it kept massaging, warming, moving…forgiving. He was forgiven. Somehow.
"It matters not, Legolas. Let it go, mellon nin. It matters not…"
He suddenly felt a warm breeze on his face. He closed his eyes, and felt a faint smile touch his lips. Slowly, love, joy, and hope wafted through him, filling him to the brim with emotions he thought he'd never feel again.
"Iun uuva layaa mellon, Legolas."
//I will always be your friend, Legolas//
Legolas' head fell back, and he leaned into the feelings that gently overwhelmed him. "Istón…" he felt himself respond. "Istón…" Familiar memories flew through his head. Memories of the night they'd left the halls of Gabil Gûndu. They struck hope into his heart once more. He was there. Somewhere, somehow, he was still there.
"I'm fading, Legolas. I'm leaving."
Legolas' eyes snapped open, and he realized that the feeling, the warmth, the joy was drifting out the open door. He leapt to his feet, and ran to the doorway as well. "Where-"
"Just to your favorite balcony. To wait. Legolas…it's not too late. Not yet. It's not too late to fight it."
The words entered Legolas' mind like a clear breeze. Yes. Again, it was the only word his mind responded with. Yes. It was all that could be said. Yes.
And since that was the only word Legolas could hear anymore, he stared into the nothingness for a few long moments, and nodded. Yes.
"Estel…" But he couldn't make himself believe it. It was too much! But…yes. And he sighed deeply. Truth. He was looking at pure truth. And the thought made him dizzy.
Before he realized what he'd been thinking, his knees gave out, and he heard someone calling his name.
Dark.
"Legolas! Legolas, please not again, wake up! Legolas?"
Legolas' eyes opened to find Edren kneeling over him, his fingers pressed tightly against the prince's neck, feeling out his pulse. Legolas blinked. "Estel…"
"It is Edren, Legolas. Are you well?"
Legolas felt Edren pulling him into a sitting position as he fought to remember the confusing battle he'd just fought. What had he heard? What had he felt? What had touched him? Quietly, he looked around the room, and his roving eyes settled on Aragorn once more. "Ara- no. Estel."
Edren shook his head silently, unable to respond.
"Estel…" Legolas sighed softly, trying to remember what had caused him to faint. "It is not too late…" he recited the only words he could remember quietly, and then began to speak them as his own. As a statement and un assurance, rather than a quote. "It is not too late to fight it." His eyes finally rested on Edren, and they were burning with the light of estel. With hope bright as Eärendil.
"Aragorn…" he finally whispered, breathless in his understanding. "He is alive!"