Alagos
---Chapter Three---
Elladan relaxed under the touch of his father, though his uncontrollable shivering did not diminish in the least. By the Valar, he was cold, and he knew Elrohir was worse off than he, for it had consumed him. Elladan was weakening by the minute as the rain poured relentlessly upon him, continually stinging his eyes and making it difficult for breath, which was hard enough as it was.
But he did not say anything about it. He would not complain, though he knew no one would blame him if he did. But there was no use for it. Not now. His father was bad enough as it was. He did not need to be even more worried by his discomforts.
Elladan coughed and turned his head to the side, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth. He spat upon the ground, away from his brother and father, and turned his head to the other side. At least this way the rain did not strike his eyes directly, which were getting harder and harder to keep open. What had come over Elrohir was creeping up on Elladan as well.
As he fought to stay awake, Elladan looked to his father for reassurance, for some sort of comfort despite the chaos around them.
Elrohir sucked in a breath, trying to force himself back to reality. If he fell asleep, he would die, and there was nothing more to it. Yet it just hurt so much. as if the air was being crushed out of his lungs. Yet he was so worried for Elladan. He could find not even the strength to lift a land and touch to his brother's face and see if he was still alive.
"By Elbereth," breathed Elrond in fear for his sons' lives, and he said aloud as he tried to push against the trees, "Elrohir, Elladan, talk to me... do not stop..." He had to keep them talking. If they fell asleep... it was just out of the question. "Do you hear me? Keep talking!"
He chose to see to Elrohir first, as his younger twin seemed worse off than his elder. Pressing his shoulder gingerly to the fallen trunk just above Elrohir, he pushed ever so carefully, making sure that he did no more damage by his meddling than was already done. The tree barely budged. The wind whipped into his face, and he grimaced, turning it to the side.
There was no way he could do this task by himself.
"GLORFINDEL!" he bellowed into the storm, but the wind yanked his words away and tossed them hither and thither. "ERESTOR! By ELBERETH, someone HELP ME!"
He stood, panting in the storm, and then with some useless words of comfort to his sons he moved over to Elladan's tree to see if it was any easier to push.
"Elladan!? Elrohir!? Elrond!?" A voice, made barely audible by the storm and strong wind drifted light through the air, it's owner stumbling vainly around trees; standing and fallen alike. Where were they? Nearly all of Imladris was out searching for the sons of Elrond- and Erestor was now concerned for his friend's safety as well.
The veiled and nearly silenced cry managed to reach the ears of Erestor, his breath catching in his throat and his pace quickening. What had happened? Perhaps the twins were found, and were waiting out the storm. The attempt at reassurance did nothing to hinder the fear that had taken a hold of his heart. He had the feeling that something was very wrong. "El-" The Elf stopped, seeing the form of Elrond by to fallen trees, the color draining from his face. "Please Elbereth no." He murmured, taking off in a run once more. "My lord!"
Elladan watched with growing fatigue as his father tried to move Elrohir's tree; his face fell as Elrond gave it up. His hope began to fade as his eyelids fluttered and he began to nod off. No, no! He could not fall asleep! It would claim his life! No! Elladan fought off the darkness as best as his quivering body could, but hypothermia had set in long ago. Even for an Elf, Elladan had held the darkness at bay longer than he'd expected himself to.
But he could not hold out much longer. Even as he felt some of the weight of the tree shift, the pain did not seem to register. His eyes rolled about, and he blinked furiously. No....he couldn't rest, not for a second...no...no.
Thought seemed to stop as Elladan laid his head upon the forest floor and turned it to the side, his eyes halfway veiled as his conscious mind fled. That did not stop his trembling in the least, however. As the rain continued to fall and the wind to moan, it seemed a more and more hopeless situation for the Elves of Imladris.
Elladan, stay awake!" Elrohir was surprised that he found a voice to utter those three words. He had begun to thing the wood had paralyzed his body and speech, and was only left with his mind working. He winced ash attempted to shift positions, a strangled cry escaping his parched lips as the action did not agree with his broken ribs. Why had he insisted they go out today, when the weather was as bad as it was? Had he not been so adamant, this never would've happened. Now what would happen if he died? And even worse, what would happen if Elladan died?
Elrond's head snapped into the direction of the voice, and felt relief seep through him as he caught sight of his advisor.
"Erestor!" he cried. "Erestor, where --"
He broke off as his attention was caught by Elladan. He could feel the adrenaline and fear pump through his veins as he retreated back to his eldest son's form.
"ELLADAN!" he shouted, his eyes wide as he touched his forehead. "Do NOT do this, Elladan! Speak to me!" He turned to Elrohir, and he felt very overwhelmed and confused. "Elrohir! Keep talking!"
Another elf was battling against the elements, just a few paces behind Erestor. Glorfindel cursed as the wind whipped the rain into his eyes, making the scene before him of Elrond and his sons blur.
"ELROND!" he bellowed. "What happened?"
He jumped over the end of the tree that had fallen over Elrohir, and walked quickly up to the scene. He cast a look about him, and in a second he was giving out orders, seeing that Elrond was too confused to do so himself.
"Erestor! Find me a long branch," he demanded. "As long and as thick as you can find. Elrond ... carry on."
He himself began inspecting the fallen trees, looking for any sign of weakness in the sturdy trunks.
A long stick. That would not be hard to find, considering the many trees that had fallen since the storm start. Erestor nodded, not even being able to look at the twins for long. There would be plenty time for that later.
Elrohir winced, feeling any will and strength in him fade away in half an instant. He was trying to hold on. trying to give himself a chance. Yet the life he'd felt all his years was slowly slipping away, and he could no longer do anything to stop it. He turned his head slightly, looking fondly upon his brother with a pained and sad expression, before looking over to his father with a small smile.
"I am sorry but. I do not think." He could not even finish the sentence as his eyes turned a vacant hue of grey, glossy and lifeless, and his heart and breath stopping altogether. At least the pain was gone.
Elladan's eyes fluttered as his father's voice reached out and called him back to reality. He regained consciousness, but with that came the searing pain as his ribs pierced and dug into his lungs. Elladan gave a strangled cry as he saw Elrohir's head fall lifelessly to the side, tears within his gray eyes. His brother was dead.
Agony, both physical, mental, and emotional, coursed through him; an agony he'd never felt before as he broke down into choking sobs. His broken ribs protested, only giving cause for more tears. Elladan could not bear the thought of living without Elrohir. Who would he confide in when his heart was troubled? Who would be there, alone and afraid in the darkness as a storm raged, for him to give comfort to? Who would he have to hunt with, to laugh with?
There were so many things Elladan had never gotten to tell Elrohir, not in the least was the love he had for his brother. And he thought of the rest -- Erestor, Estel, Glorfindel, but mostly, his father. Elladan could feel his time slipping away as well, as unwilling as his spirit was to give up. His father would be heartbroken, as Elladan was, in both spirit and body.
What words of comfort could he offer in such a time as this?
Elladan then thought of a snatch of melody he remembered, but could not think of the lyrics that went with it. Using this as well as the words coming from his heart, Elladan was weakly able to put all he wanted to say to his father into song:
"Do not fret, adar, father.
I do not feel any pain
This little fall of rain
Can hardly hurt me now
You're here, that is all I need to know
And you shall keep me safe
And you shall keep me close
And rain will make the flowers grow
Elrohir would live, by the Valar above
I would have closed his wounds with words of love
But it's over now, just let it be
Shelter me, comfort me
You will live ten thousand years
If I could show you how
Please don't desert me now...
The rain can't hurt me now
This rain shall wash away what's passed
And you will keep me safe
And you will keep me close
I'll sleep in your embrace at last.
The rain that brings us here
Elbereth has blessed
The skies again shall clear
When I'm at rest
A breath away from where you are
I've come home from so far
Do not fret, adar, father.
I do not feel any pain
A little fall of rain
Can hardly hurt me now
You're here, that is all I need to know
And you shall keep me safe
And you shall keep me close
And rain...will make the flowers..."
But Elladan would leave the finishing of the song to whomever wanted to end it. His strength did not hold out until the end. As he murmured the final words, his head dropped and his eyes closed halfway, glazed over and empty of the soul that once was there. His body stopped shaking. Elladan knew and felt no more.
His spirit joined that of his brother's in the Halls of Mandos.
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---Chapter Three---
Elladan relaxed under the touch of his father, though his uncontrollable shivering did not diminish in the least. By the Valar, he was cold, and he knew Elrohir was worse off than he, for it had consumed him. Elladan was weakening by the minute as the rain poured relentlessly upon him, continually stinging his eyes and making it difficult for breath, which was hard enough as it was.
But he did not say anything about it. He would not complain, though he knew no one would blame him if he did. But there was no use for it. Not now. His father was bad enough as it was. He did not need to be even more worried by his discomforts.
Elladan coughed and turned his head to the side, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth. He spat upon the ground, away from his brother and father, and turned his head to the other side. At least this way the rain did not strike his eyes directly, which were getting harder and harder to keep open. What had come over Elrohir was creeping up on Elladan as well.
As he fought to stay awake, Elladan looked to his father for reassurance, for some sort of comfort despite the chaos around them.
Elrohir sucked in a breath, trying to force himself back to reality. If he fell asleep, he would die, and there was nothing more to it. Yet it just hurt so much. as if the air was being crushed out of his lungs. Yet he was so worried for Elladan. He could find not even the strength to lift a land and touch to his brother's face and see if he was still alive.
"By Elbereth," breathed Elrond in fear for his sons' lives, and he said aloud as he tried to push against the trees, "Elrohir, Elladan, talk to me... do not stop..." He had to keep them talking. If they fell asleep... it was just out of the question. "Do you hear me? Keep talking!"
He chose to see to Elrohir first, as his younger twin seemed worse off than his elder. Pressing his shoulder gingerly to the fallen trunk just above Elrohir, he pushed ever so carefully, making sure that he did no more damage by his meddling than was already done. The tree barely budged. The wind whipped into his face, and he grimaced, turning it to the side.
There was no way he could do this task by himself.
"GLORFINDEL!" he bellowed into the storm, but the wind yanked his words away and tossed them hither and thither. "ERESTOR! By ELBERETH, someone HELP ME!"
He stood, panting in the storm, and then with some useless words of comfort to his sons he moved over to Elladan's tree to see if it was any easier to push.
"Elladan!? Elrohir!? Elrond!?" A voice, made barely audible by the storm and strong wind drifted light through the air, it's owner stumbling vainly around trees; standing and fallen alike. Where were they? Nearly all of Imladris was out searching for the sons of Elrond- and Erestor was now concerned for his friend's safety as well.
The veiled and nearly silenced cry managed to reach the ears of Erestor, his breath catching in his throat and his pace quickening. What had happened? Perhaps the twins were found, and were waiting out the storm. The attempt at reassurance did nothing to hinder the fear that had taken a hold of his heart. He had the feeling that something was very wrong. "El-" The Elf stopped, seeing the form of Elrond by to fallen trees, the color draining from his face. "Please Elbereth no." He murmured, taking off in a run once more. "My lord!"
Elladan watched with growing fatigue as his father tried to move Elrohir's tree; his face fell as Elrond gave it up. His hope began to fade as his eyelids fluttered and he began to nod off. No, no! He could not fall asleep! It would claim his life! No! Elladan fought off the darkness as best as his quivering body could, but hypothermia had set in long ago. Even for an Elf, Elladan had held the darkness at bay longer than he'd expected himself to.
But he could not hold out much longer. Even as he felt some of the weight of the tree shift, the pain did not seem to register. His eyes rolled about, and he blinked furiously. No....he couldn't rest, not for a second...no...no.
Thought seemed to stop as Elladan laid his head upon the forest floor and turned it to the side, his eyes halfway veiled as his conscious mind fled. That did not stop his trembling in the least, however. As the rain continued to fall and the wind to moan, it seemed a more and more hopeless situation for the Elves of Imladris.
Elladan, stay awake!" Elrohir was surprised that he found a voice to utter those three words. He had begun to thing the wood had paralyzed his body and speech, and was only left with his mind working. He winced ash attempted to shift positions, a strangled cry escaping his parched lips as the action did not agree with his broken ribs. Why had he insisted they go out today, when the weather was as bad as it was? Had he not been so adamant, this never would've happened. Now what would happen if he died? And even worse, what would happen if Elladan died?
Elrond's head snapped into the direction of the voice, and felt relief seep through him as he caught sight of his advisor.
"Erestor!" he cried. "Erestor, where --"
He broke off as his attention was caught by Elladan. He could feel the adrenaline and fear pump through his veins as he retreated back to his eldest son's form.
"ELLADAN!" he shouted, his eyes wide as he touched his forehead. "Do NOT do this, Elladan! Speak to me!" He turned to Elrohir, and he felt very overwhelmed and confused. "Elrohir! Keep talking!"
Another elf was battling against the elements, just a few paces behind Erestor. Glorfindel cursed as the wind whipped the rain into his eyes, making the scene before him of Elrond and his sons blur.
"ELROND!" he bellowed. "What happened?"
He jumped over the end of the tree that had fallen over Elrohir, and walked quickly up to the scene. He cast a look about him, and in a second he was giving out orders, seeing that Elrond was too confused to do so himself.
"Erestor! Find me a long branch," he demanded. "As long and as thick as you can find. Elrond ... carry on."
He himself began inspecting the fallen trees, looking for any sign of weakness in the sturdy trunks.
A long stick. That would not be hard to find, considering the many trees that had fallen since the storm start. Erestor nodded, not even being able to look at the twins for long. There would be plenty time for that later.
Elrohir winced, feeling any will and strength in him fade away in half an instant. He was trying to hold on. trying to give himself a chance. Yet the life he'd felt all his years was slowly slipping away, and he could no longer do anything to stop it. He turned his head slightly, looking fondly upon his brother with a pained and sad expression, before looking over to his father with a small smile.
"I am sorry but. I do not think." He could not even finish the sentence as his eyes turned a vacant hue of grey, glossy and lifeless, and his heart and breath stopping altogether. At least the pain was gone.
Elladan's eyes fluttered as his father's voice reached out and called him back to reality. He regained consciousness, but with that came the searing pain as his ribs pierced and dug into his lungs. Elladan gave a strangled cry as he saw Elrohir's head fall lifelessly to the side, tears within his gray eyes. His brother was dead.
Agony, both physical, mental, and emotional, coursed through him; an agony he'd never felt before as he broke down into choking sobs. His broken ribs protested, only giving cause for more tears. Elladan could not bear the thought of living without Elrohir. Who would he confide in when his heart was troubled? Who would be there, alone and afraid in the darkness as a storm raged, for him to give comfort to? Who would he have to hunt with, to laugh with?
There were so many things Elladan had never gotten to tell Elrohir, not in the least was the love he had for his brother. And he thought of the rest -- Erestor, Estel, Glorfindel, but mostly, his father. Elladan could feel his time slipping away as well, as unwilling as his spirit was to give up. His father would be heartbroken, as Elladan was, in both spirit and body.
What words of comfort could he offer in such a time as this?
Elladan then thought of a snatch of melody he remembered, but could not think of the lyrics that went with it. Using this as well as the words coming from his heart, Elladan was weakly able to put all he wanted to say to his father into song:
"Do not fret, adar, father.
I do not feel any pain
This little fall of rain
Can hardly hurt me now
You're here, that is all I need to know
And you shall keep me safe
And you shall keep me close
And rain will make the flowers grow
Elrohir would live, by the Valar above
I would have closed his wounds with words of love
But it's over now, just let it be
Shelter me, comfort me
You will live ten thousand years
If I could show you how
Please don't desert me now...
The rain can't hurt me now
This rain shall wash away what's passed
And you will keep me safe
And you will keep me close
I'll sleep in your embrace at last.
The rain that brings us here
Elbereth has blessed
The skies again shall clear
When I'm at rest
A breath away from where you are
I've come home from so far
Do not fret, adar, father.
I do not feel any pain
A little fall of rain
Can hardly hurt me now
You're here, that is all I need to know
And you shall keep me safe
And you shall keep me close
And rain...will make the flowers..."
But Elladan would leave the finishing of the song to whomever wanted to end it. His strength did not hold out until the end. As he murmured the final words, his head dropped and his eyes closed halfway, glazed over and empty of the soul that once was there. His body stopped shaking. Elladan knew and felt no more.
His spirit joined that of his brother's in the Halls of Mandos.
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