Alagos
---Chapter One---
The day was gray and slightly chilly, althought without the blustering wind, it might have almost been nice enough to go without cloaks. Yet the wind howled and blew all around two gray-clad figures that tramped through the woods of Imaldris, trying to get back to the warmth of the halls. They'd simply been out for a walk when the wind was light, but now it whipped their garments and raven black hair forward. At least the way back home put it at their backs.
Elladan was one of the figures, the older of the twins. He looked straight ahead through slightly squinted eyes as the leaves danced all around them, leading the way as they twisted a few feet above the ground. Strands of obsidian hair fell into his face, and he raised a hand to brush them off, only to be defeated when more found their way back there. Elrohir, the second figure, was walking near blind because his eyes were squinted in order to keep out the biting wind. The tiny braids that usually kept his dark locks in check were no longer even keep even some hair out of his face.
"Ai, this wind!" the elder twin finally half-shouted in order to make himself heard to his brother, Elrohir, who walked beside him. Never could Elladan remember such a great wind storm as the one they were in now. Hopefully all these trees have strong roots, Elladan thought somewhat glumly as they tramped through the carpet of leaves on the forest floor.
It had started as a nice enough day, sunny with only a few clouds threatening to spread over the Elven realm. When the rain came- which it was sure to come eventually- no one would be outdoors to face the drops and the mighty wind.
"Perhaps we should find some sort of shelt-ah!" Elrohir's speech was cut off as his cloak was ripped off his shoulders by an exceptionally strong gust. Muttering a few choice words, the Elf went after it, the weather greatly decreasing his usual speed.
After a few moments, Elrohir could see the cloak rippling away in the wind, having caught onto a tree branch. A smug smile put itself on his face, and about to reach out for it, his boot got caught on an upraised root; which had not been raised before.
Elladan glanced up as the cloak streaked across his path, and then his brother. He muttered darkly as he gave chase after them, but the wind and rain made it nearly impossible to see where he was going. But whether by luck or chance, he saw his brother trip up on the root and went over to him, wiping rainwater from his eyes. Another extremely forceful gale swept across them, forcing Elladan to take a step back in order to balance himself.
The tree that had hold of Elrohir's cloak groaned and shifted, causing Elladan to glance up sharply. The tree was quite old and very tall, a sycamore. The storm was definitely taking its toll upon the ancient plant. Elladan's brow furrowed in concern.
"Elrohir, quickly. Grab your cloak. This tree is liable to fall at any moment!"
"I'm. trying!" Elrohir muttered through clenched teeth, pulling at his cloak. He would've left it, but it had been given to him by his mother the last time she had seen him. and there was no way he would let it go.
"I think I've. got it." And sure enough, part of the cloak ripped and let it free, yet also sending Elrohir flying back into the unstable tree with a loud 'thud'. He winced as his back came in contact with the hard wood, but nothing could prepare him for what came next.
The sycamore wobbled, it's long roots ripping from the ground and causing other trees to fall as well as they pulled from the forest floor. The Elven prince desperately tried to get up, yet he'd twisted his ankle severely when he fell into the tree. "Elladan!" He cried weakly, seeing the large tree begin to topple over.
Elrohir could not scream. he could not give any cry, as the blow of the tree had left him winded, several ribs broken and jabbed into his lungs. He simply stared, grey eyes wide with such a pain he could not even begin to describe.
Elladan's eyes widened and fear struck his heart as he heard his brother's call. For a second, all he saw was Elrohir, helpless upon the ground, beneath a tree that would soon fall upon him within moments. Adrenaline pumped through his body as he knelt down and grabbed Elrohir's wrists, starting to pull him from the tree.
But then a creak caught his attention as another tree, falling in the opposite direction, whisked swiftly upon him, and before he knew it, the tree had pinned him to the ground, face up, crushing his abdomen. With an anguished scream, he writhed underneath the pressure until another crash reminded him of Elrohir's plight.
He twisted his neck, afraid of what he'd find as he looked for his brother.
Elrohir could feel his brother's eyes upon him, and he slowly turned his optics upwards, purely in concern for Elladan. For a split second, he forgot about his own searing pain, and tried to move to help his twin, that just resulted in even more pain. more pain than he thought possible.
Elladan's spirits fell even further as he saw his brother in nearly the same position as he, only he was upon his stomach, while Elladan lied on his back. Seeing him struggle to get free, Elladan moaned softly and objected.
"No, Elrohir...do not try to help me. I fear this tree is too heavy for you...even if you could get out from under yours."
Every breath was so difficult for him, but what only aggravated him further was the rain that beat harshly upon his face, stinging his eyes and making breathing even harder. His ribs screamed in agony as the broken ends dug roughly into his lungs and other organs.
He knew his fate, but what of his brother? Surely he would follow if no one came soon. The thought of this sickened Elladan as the wind continued to howl, and the rain continued to pour upon them mercilessly. Elladan began to despair, not for himself, but for Elrohir. His little brother...dead. It was too painful of a thought to bear.
And yet he would not be alone in his death. If this was truly their fate, then there was no one Elladan would rather accompany than his best friend and kin.
"Can't. not. help. you. 'Dan." Elrohir murmured, wincing sharply as he tried to escape in vain. No. he couldn't give up, he couldn't not fight for his life. It had always been that way-even though the younger of the two was more reserved in some ways, he never gave up on anything.
Elladan's heart broke to see Elrohir struggle so. He knew his brother would not give up as long as he still had strength within. But he mustn't hurt himself even more, not on his account. Elladan shifted slightly in attempt to lessen the pressure on his abdomen, but instead he only created the opposite effect. Wincing and stifling a cry of pain, he looked to Elrohir.
The younger twin suddenly realized it wasn't just his chest that throbbed, but also his right arm and legs. They must've been broken. which made it even more difficult to continue his mission to get free. "Must. home. hurt." A jagged end of a rock and pierced a bit of his neck, though was not deep enough to cause instant death. "They. come. ada." He trailed off, struggling to keep consciousness.
"Elrohir, no...do not struggle. You cannot possibly escape. Don't hurt yourself worse. If someone does come, I do not want them to find you dead on my behalf!"
The wind and rain continued to pelt down angrily. Raindrops rolled down Elladan's face, washing off the sweat and tears that coursed down his cheeks. At least in the rain, Elrohir would not be able to tell Elladan was weeping for him.
"Not. your. fault." Elrohir said, reaching his free and only slightly wounded hand up to his brother's cheek with a smile. "Won't. die. they. come. Not. die. yet." He continued on, slightly delirious with fever. "Love. you. brother." Those were his last words, before slipping into a dark dream, rain still beating his ageless face.
Elladan's eyes widened as Elrohir fell into his sleep, and since his arms were pinned, there was no way of checking his vitals to see if he still lived or not. The tears flowed more steadily, though the rain was slackening.
"Elrohir....Elrohir!" Elladan called, his throat tightening with emotion. No. he could not lose his brother and best friend...not out here in the middle of nowhere, in the rain and wind, without a fighting chance for life. Elladan struggled to free himself, but this only resulted in more pain.
But he could care less. He would not let his own selfishness stand in the way of him and Elrohir.
------
---Chapter One---
The day was gray and slightly chilly, althought without the blustering wind, it might have almost been nice enough to go without cloaks. Yet the wind howled and blew all around two gray-clad figures that tramped through the woods of Imaldris, trying to get back to the warmth of the halls. They'd simply been out for a walk when the wind was light, but now it whipped their garments and raven black hair forward. At least the way back home put it at their backs.
Elladan was one of the figures, the older of the twins. He looked straight ahead through slightly squinted eyes as the leaves danced all around them, leading the way as they twisted a few feet above the ground. Strands of obsidian hair fell into his face, and he raised a hand to brush them off, only to be defeated when more found their way back there. Elrohir, the second figure, was walking near blind because his eyes were squinted in order to keep out the biting wind. The tiny braids that usually kept his dark locks in check were no longer even keep even some hair out of his face.
"Ai, this wind!" the elder twin finally half-shouted in order to make himself heard to his brother, Elrohir, who walked beside him. Never could Elladan remember such a great wind storm as the one they were in now. Hopefully all these trees have strong roots, Elladan thought somewhat glumly as they tramped through the carpet of leaves on the forest floor.
It had started as a nice enough day, sunny with only a few clouds threatening to spread over the Elven realm. When the rain came- which it was sure to come eventually- no one would be outdoors to face the drops and the mighty wind.
"Perhaps we should find some sort of shelt-ah!" Elrohir's speech was cut off as his cloak was ripped off his shoulders by an exceptionally strong gust. Muttering a few choice words, the Elf went after it, the weather greatly decreasing his usual speed.
After a few moments, Elrohir could see the cloak rippling away in the wind, having caught onto a tree branch. A smug smile put itself on his face, and about to reach out for it, his boot got caught on an upraised root; which had not been raised before.
Elladan glanced up as the cloak streaked across his path, and then his brother. He muttered darkly as he gave chase after them, but the wind and rain made it nearly impossible to see where he was going. But whether by luck or chance, he saw his brother trip up on the root and went over to him, wiping rainwater from his eyes. Another extremely forceful gale swept across them, forcing Elladan to take a step back in order to balance himself.
The tree that had hold of Elrohir's cloak groaned and shifted, causing Elladan to glance up sharply. The tree was quite old and very tall, a sycamore. The storm was definitely taking its toll upon the ancient plant. Elladan's brow furrowed in concern.
"Elrohir, quickly. Grab your cloak. This tree is liable to fall at any moment!"
"I'm. trying!" Elrohir muttered through clenched teeth, pulling at his cloak. He would've left it, but it had been given to him by his mother the last time she had seen him. and there was no way he would let it go.
"I think I've. got it." And sure enough, part of the cloak ripped and let it free, yet also sending Elrohir flying back into the unstable tree with a loud 'thud'. He winced as his back came in contact with the hard wood, but nothing could prepare him for what came next.
The sycamore wobbled, it's long roots ripping from the ground and causing other trees to fall as well as they pulled from the forest floor. The Elven prince desperately tried to get up, yet he'd twisted his ankle severely when he fell into the tree. "Elladan!" He cried weakly, seeing the large tree begin to topple over.
Elrohir could not scream. he could not give any cry, as the blow of the tree had left him winded, several ribs broken and jabbed into his lungs. He simply stared, grey eyes wide with such a pain he could not even begin to describe.
Elladan's eyes widened and fear struck his heart as he heard his brother's call. For a second, all he saw was Elrohir, helpless upon the ground, beneath a tree that would soon fall upon him within moments. Adrenaline pumped through his body as he knelt down and grabbed Elrohir's wrists, starting to pull him from the tree.
But then a creak caught his attention as another tree, falling in the opposite direction, whisked swiftly upon him, and before he knew it, the tree had pinned him to the ground, face up, crushing his abdomen. With an anguished scream, he writhed underneath the pressure until another crash reminded him of Elrohir's plight.
He twisted his neck, afraid of what he'd find as he looked for his brother.
Elrohir could feel his brother's eyes upon him, and he slowly turned his optics upwards, purely in concern for Elladan. For a split second, he forgot about his own searing pain, and tried to move to help his twin, that just resulted in even more pain. more pain than he thought possible.
Elladan's spirits fell even further as he saw his brother in nearly the same position as he, only he was upon his stomach, while Elladan lied on his back. Seeing him struggle to get free, Elladan moaned softly and objected.
"No, Elrohir...do not try to help me. I fear this tree is too heavy for you...even if you could get out from under yours."
Every breath was so difficult for him, but what only aggravated him further was the rain that beat harshly upon his face, stinging his eyes and making breathing even harder. His ribs screamed in agony as the broken ends dug roughly into his lungs and other organs.
He knew his fate, but what of his brother? Surely he would follow if no one came soon. The thought of this sickened Elladan as the wind continued to howl, and the rain continued to pour upon them mercilessly. Elladan began to despair, not for himself, but for Elrohir. His little brother...dead. It was too painful of a thought to bear.
And yet he would not be alone in his death. If this was truly their fate, then there was no one Elladan would rather accompany than his best friend and kin.
"Can't. not. help. you. 'Dan." Elrohir murmured, wincing sharply as he tried to escape in vain. No. he couldn't give up, he couldn't not fight for his life. It had always been that way-even though the younger of the two was more reserved in some ways, he never gave up on anything.
Elladan's heart broke to see Elrohir struggle so. He knew his brother would not give up as long as he still had strength within. But he mustn't hurt himself even more, not on his account. Elladan shifted slightly in attempt to lessen the pressure on his abdomen, but instead he only created the opposite effect. Wincing and stifling a cry of pain, he looked to Elrohir.
The younger twin suddenly realized it wasn't just his chest that throbbed, but also his right arm and legs. They must've been broken. which made it even more difficult to continue his mission to get free. "Must. home. hurt." A jagged end of a rock and pierced a bit of his neck, though was not deep enough to cause instant death. "They. come. ada." He trailed off, struggling to keep consciousness.
"Elrohir, no...do not struggle. You cannot possibly escape. Don't hurt yourself worse. If someone does come, I do not want them to find you dead on my behalf!"
The wind and rain continued to pelt down angrily. Raindrops rolled down Elladan's face, washing off the sweat and tears that coursed down his cheeks. At least in the rain, Elrohir would not be able to tell Elladan was weeping for him.
"Not. your. fault." Elrohir said, reaching his free and only slightly wounded hand up to his brother's cheek with a smile. "Won't. die. they. come. Not. die. yet." He continued on, slightly delirious with fever. "Love. you. brother." Those were his last words, before slipping into a dark dream, rain still beating his ageless face.
Elladan's eyes widened as Elrohir fell into his sleep, and since his arms were pinned, there was no way of checking his vitals to see if he still lived or not. The tears flowed more steadily, though the rain was slackening.
"Elrohir....Elrohir!" Elladan called, his throat tightening with emotion. No. he could not lose his brother and best friend...not out here in the middle of nowhere, in the rain and wind, without a fighting chance for life. Elladan struggled to free himself, but this only resulted in more pain.
But he could care less. He would not let his own selfishness stand in the way of him and Elrohir.
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