A tranquil draught of air floated past the open doors of the balcony, wrapping itself about the pale blue curtains and turning the pages of the abandoned book left upon the mahogany desk before entwining itself among the long strands of raven hair.
Lord Elrond sat alone in his study, the hour had well passed into noon and he had neither left nor moved. His left hand rested shortly under his chin, supported by his elbow resting on the arm of the plush chair. He stared ahead; his eyes not focused on anything. At first glance, one may have very well thought him asleep, but rest was the furthest thing from the Elf Lord's mind.
The twins had left early that morning to continue their search for Estel and the prince, querying him if he too wished to come. Elrond had shook his head; he could not. Estel was in this mess because of him…if only he had let Estel travel with the twins…
He sighed, dropping his head into his hands as he rubbed his head. Part of him wanted to go out and find him; afraid that something ill had happened; but another part bade him to stay almost a foresight that he would be home soon. However ill it made him fell, he was going to trust the almost diminutive voice that he found deep inside of himself.
Elrond glanced up as voices sounded in the hallway, headed for his room.
"Nay, you have had your meal already, shoo, leave me be."
The door to his study was nudged open then, and Elrond wrinkled his brow in confusion at the sight before him. He sat up as the Elf placed a lap table before him, laying on top of it a breakfast platter.
"We have some fresh fruits and bread, and tender meat. I'm not quite certain how hungry you are so there be more if you wish for it."
Elrond glanced down at the food before him, then back up to the elf again.
"Caycayal?" he queried.
He turned toward the Elven Lord, raising an eyebrow in question. "Hmm?"
"What is the meaning of this?" Elrond wondered, casting his hand toward the dish the younger elf held in his hand and the apron he wore.
Caycayal smiled, "Rohden broke his leg last night, so I'll be filling in for him until he is able to walk again. Oh no you don't," he frowned, grabbing a hold of Nieninque's fur to keep away from the Elven Lord's breakfast meal.
"And you think I cannot care for myself?" Elrond asked, half amused, half irritated.
"Oh, I know far well that you can, the question is if you will."
Elrond nodded, "Very well then."
He turned his mind back to his pressing thoughts, but the presence of the younger Elf did not pass by unnoticed, and he raised his eyes to meet his companion's.
Elrond let out a sigh, "Why do I have the feeling that I won't get any peace until after I've eaten?"
Caycayal only smiled, beckoning to his plate. Elrond shook his head, "I submit, you win."
He grabbed a slice of bread, eating it slowly. He had to admit that food did sound good, and he hadn't realized how hungry he was until he had started eating. He wondered vaguely if his son was eating enough food. At the thought Elrond stopped chewing, holding the warm bread in his hand.
Caycayal noted the change in the Elven Lord and knelt down next to him.
"What ever you are thinking, you are not at fault. It was Estel's choice to leave, not yours. He will return, you have foreseen it, have you not?"
Elrond sighed deeply and nodded, "But how can I bring myself to believe it?"
Caycayal smiled, "Hope and trust, that is all."
Elrond glanced at him, returning the smile, then suddenly chuckled. Caycayal's impression changed, uncertain of what the Elf Lord found in the conversation that was so amusing. "Mani?"
"I believe I just lost my appetite for breakfast," Elrond replied, continuing to laugh.
A confused look crossed the younger Elf's face as he tried to follow Elrond's explanation. A small nod from the elder elf caused him to turn around, catching the young wolf pup helping himself to the unattended breakfast plate. He quickly lunged at the pup, cursing his name but Nieninque easily got by, carrying the fresh meat with him into the corner of the room, where he finished the fine morsel.
Caycayal let out a sigh, getting to his knees. He glared daggers at the white beast, cursing still. "I should wring your neck you little thief. You've had your meal already, twice! You should know better, stealing other people's food…"
Caycayal stopped talking, turning back to the Elven Lord who was laughing quite hard now, and giving the Elven Lord an equal glare.
"And pray tell, what is so amusing?"
Elrond shook his head, smiling, "You should speak with my sons, perchance they would listen better than he."
The younger Elf sighed, standing up, "I suppose you're right." He glared back at Nieninque, who now was sitting ever alert in the far corner. "I'll bring something else up in a moment," he continued, gathering up what was left of the meal.
"That would not be necessary mellon-nin. I will fix myself something," Elrond told him, standing up swiftly. "It will take my mind off unwanted thoughts."
Caycayal nodded, gazing up thoughtfully at the Elven Lord, "Don't not worry, soon you will be convincing them to leave."
Elrond laughed, helping Caycayal clean up the mess, "Yes, but that is how things are."
Caycayal nodded in agreement, heading for the door. "Come on you," he called, glancing over his shoulder back at Nieninque. The pup didn't need a second invitation as he ran across the room, diving under the younger Elf's legs and out the door. Caycayal cursed as he almost dropped the platter, shouting after the wolf, "And pay attention to where you are going!" moments after seeing the pup run headfirst into the wall.
Caycayal glanced back at Elrond, giving a pleading look, "You are not planning to keep him forever are you?"
"I fear we don't have much of a choice young one," Elrond responded, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder as they made their way down the stairs.
*~*~*~*The darkness of the cave was unforgiving, as the pair soon found out. The ground was treacherous beneath their feet and so travel had become increasingly slow. They had somehow found their way into another part of the cave. Here the path was narrow, winding about a large abyss. Aragorn was certain they would find a way out once reaching the bottom, but the path would take long to travel. Neither of them could see the bottom to the pit, nor did they wish to find it the hard way, and so took their time navigating around the rocky obstacles.
Legolas let the human lead, following behind a short distance, lost in memory and thought. The last time he had been in a cave was unpleasant enough, a tragic story to be told. He cursed inwardly at himself for being so childish. The past was over with; just because it happened once didn't mean it would happen again. He knew it was true, but was unable to force himself to believe it, to accept that fact.
"…missed a turn," Estel's voice pulled the Elf from his thoughts, and he realized dully that the ranger must have been talking for some time now. He was thrown off when the human suddenly stopped, and ended up running into him, knocking the ranger off balance.
Aragorn wasn't sure what happened, but the next thing he knew was that he was sliding down the face of the cliff. He flung his arms about, desperately seeking a hold about the rocky front. He was startled when strong hands grabbed him, and instinctually jerked away before realizing too late that it was Legolas. He heard the Elf curse as he too fell down the cliff shortly behind him.
Legolas tried to slow his descent by digging his heels into the ground, but to horror his feet caught unseen rocks, flipping the Elf over onto his stomach. A sharp cry left his lips as his head hit the hard ground, dropping him into a world of darkness.
Aragorn continued to grasp the ground as he rolled along the uneven surface. His back hurt where he had landed on several rocks, but he ignored the throbbing pain as he tried to grab a hold of something time after time, only to fail. Therefore he was surprised when one of his hands managed to finally grasp something sturdy. His arm protested as his full weight fell on it, but he refused to release his hold. Using his other hand he covered his head, shielding himself from the shower of rocks that were produced from Legolas' fall.
"Legolas, grab my hand!" he shouted the warning out mere seconds before he fell past. But Aragorn could only watch as Legolas fell past him, realizing then that Legolas was no longer conscious. He was unsure of how much longer the Elf fell, it seemed like hours, but in truth was no more then mere minutes before Legolas came to rest on the bottom. Aragorn cursed at himself, knowing he had to get to the Elf somehow, and that there was only way to do that now.
Taking a deep breath he let of his hold, sliding the rest of the way down at a now slower rate. Nearing the end he could see Legolas' form, lying still at the bottom of the ravine. He landed hard at the bottom, cursing lightly at the pain that ran through his legs before making his way over to the Elf, calling his name fearfully.
He brushed Legolas' long strands of hair away from his face, grimacing as his hand came in contact with a warm sticky substance. It was too dark to fully examine the Elf's wounds, and he had no way of telling how bad his wounds were. Even if he knew, he had nothing to treat them with.
Legolas suddenly stirred under his hands and Aragorn talked to him quietly in his native tongue. Legolas flinched and drew out from his touch before opening his eyes. He could hardly see, everything was dark. Someone else was there, talking to him…Legolas stared up with confusion in his eyes.
"Rasiel?" he queried quietly.
"No, Aragorn," the figure reassured him. Legolas blinked, it was hard to think at the moment. Confused and dazed and uncertain of what had just happened or how he got there he repeated the same question.
The Elf's actions scared the ranger some. He had to admit he had not treated anything more than scrapes or bruises, and certainly had never treated a head wound. He gently clasped Legolas' hand, shaking his head.
"It's me, Strider. You've taken a nasty tumble, just lie still for a moment," he told the Elf.
Legolas closed his eyes as the ranger tried unsuccessfully to examine his wounds. His head was beginning to clear, leaving him with a pounding headache as he tried to squelch the fear inside of him. Above him the human sighed.
"Legolas?"
The Elf opened his eyes, searching for his companion's in the darkness. Aragorn noticed the change with relief, smiling down at the question eyes.
"I can't see well enough, I need to know where you hurt."
Legolas laughed softly, "Everywhere, but nothing to serious I believe," he said shortly after, and to prove his point, he slowly eased himself up, allowing the human to help him. Legolas pressed one of his swollen hands against his forehead, trying to cease the bleeding, before laughing once again.
"What is it?" Aragorn asked curiously, uncertain of what the Elf found humorous in the situation.
"I was just thinking," he answered, turning toward the human. "Tis probably a good thing we can't see each other very well, we probably look terrible."
Aragorn also laughed, helping Legolas to his feet. "And you are right. Well then, now that we are down, why don't we continue?"
Legolas smiled sheepishly, uncertain if Aragorn could see him or not.
"Did you not hear what I said before we fell?" Aragorn queried?
"Not really…" Legolas confessed.
Aragorn nodded, "I thought so. Are you ready to tell me what this is all about?"
Legolas grew quiet, drawing in a deep breath, not answering.
"Tis okay Legolas, you do not have to speak if you don't wish too, I just don't want another incident happening because your mind is occupied," he turned to leave but. Legolas caught his arm.
"Nay, it is about time I told someone else.." he paused for a moment. "But it is long a story."
Aragorn nodded. "With our luck we still have a long way to go."
As they began walking once again, Legolas' voice was quiet, but the human could easily hear as they walked side by side.
"It started in the early spring, many years before your generation…"
TBC
I know, I know, I'm cruel, but if you be nice I'll have the next chapter ASAP. So, onto R2RFirst off thanks to Merlraven, Sunnflowers, Coolio02, Jamie, elfmage, and leggylover03 for wonderful reviews! And now to answer questions
Some very good guesses, Legolas' friend dying a fire, and Legolas himself getting lost in a cave and nearly dying are somewhat on the right track. But not exactly. You'll find out next chapter, but feel free to keep guessing!
LOTRFaith-
Sadly no, Legolas was taking captive by anyone when he was young, at least not yet, you know his past can easily change… but as I said before you are guessing somewhat close, and yes it does have to do with caves. I find cave actually fascinating, believe it or not…now I haven't been in one on my own, but we I have been in ice caves and besides the cold part they are pretty neat.
Boromir
All I can say is that you are semi correct, keep guessing mellon-nin
Yes I did notice chapter 7 was posted twice, not to sure why, but it did it. Glad you are enjoying it so much.
Alkvingiel-I thought that approach would be neat, so I'm glad you liked it. And here is more, with even more to come soon!
Gwyn-
Why yes it is, you see, I was feeling so generous about it, I decided to post it twice…okay so it was a FF mistake. Sorry for making you think I had posted two chapters
Firnsarnien-Sorry for the long wait, between moving, school, driving school and everything else one has little time to write. Besides it is difficult to type when one doesn't have a computer for two months.