The Loss of Hope

In answer to reviews:

(Chapter 7)

~Wild Phyre: thanx. and u might c Leggy again, u just have to keep reading*hint hint nudge nudge"

~Lynx Yamato: u don't freak me out. my friends r freaky, but u…no

~Lady Laswen: i'm hoping 2 squeeze 3-5 more chapters out of this fic actually. and your little demon needs some serious therapy!(jk)

~Unable to Cry: u r the only person who has not threatened me with death over killing Leggy! i luv u!!

~Wolf Maid: do u need a tissue? hehe. sry that it wuz so depressing(well really i'm not cuz I did it to get a reaction but oh well)

~Mellaithwen-ElvenMaiden: u used 2 b ElizabethBlack4 rite? glad 2 hear from u. i luv tear-jerkers!J

~Tari: u might c him again. just be patient!

~kurafox: well that's a powerful reaction!

~LegolasLove2004: u take a Prozac and calm down. just keep reading.

~Reius Devirix: 2 each their own. but i don't like original characters. i don't object to them, i mean, i have Remnul and Cyro, but i think they were left out for a reason. u don't like, u don't read.

~Lillybeth1: like i said, u'll c him again.

~Sunnflowers: i luv torture don't u?

(Chapter 6)

~kurafox girl: i can't forget about aragorn! where would all the angst come from?

~LegolasLover2004: kill Legolas=ur death? ain't that a little cruel?

~Shadow Heart6: i give u more

~Wolf Maid: uh… do u mean can't or shouldn't?

~Luntetuurewen: aragorn angst *sigh* i live and breath this stuff!

~Serious-Padfoot: I AM A GENIUS*bows deeply* seriously though, thanx

~wadeva: i luv suffering! it makes 4 serious bonding time.

~Star-Stallion: slash just wasn't working 4 me here.

~Jessi Malfoy: i luv ur story, never fear. i will wait 4 updates

~Deana: did the last chapter answer all ur questions?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

            Elrond came running. This couldn't be happening, it's not possible. Legolas couldn't be dead! Not the bright, shining prince that had brought Estel out of his shell. When Elrohir had come to him with the news he had almost refused to believe it. But when he got to the healing ward and checked over the other elf, he was forced to admit it was true. Looking over at his foster son, who had his head buried in the deceased  elf's chest sobbing, his heart broke a second time. Motioning to the twins to get Aragorn back to his bed, the lord of Rivendell sadly began adjusting Legolas' sheets and clothing. But Aragorn would have none of it.

            "NO, let me GO! I won't leave him, I WON'T!" Estel was thrashing madly against his brothers, the humans eyes focused on the prone figure of his best friend. But Elrond was adamant about getting the adan to bed.

            "Estel, you must rest. The same poison that killed Legolas is not fully out of your system. What would Legolas' sacrifice mean if you died because you were full of grief?"

            The effect was instantaneous. Aragorn stopped struggling, his face taking on an empty look. Elrond was sorry that he had to mention Mirkwood's prince so soon after his death, but it was necessary.

            "Leg- he told me that." Estel said hoarsely, breaking through his father's thoughts. The older elf looked at him sympathetically. He knew how hard it must be for the young Ranger. Legolas was his best friend, along with being friends to Elladan and Elrohir. Looking at his sons together now, he realized how broken they all looked. Like empty shells of the people they once were. 'Yet another example of how much impact Legolas had on our lives' Elrond thought sadly.

            "My sons," the ruler said softly, as though speaking to children "You must overcome your grief, or it will destroy you. I will not loose another member of this family. Legolas is not coming back. We need to regain our lives."

            Elrond contemplated what he had just said. It was true, Legolas was part of their family. And though he hated having to be the foundation of the family, for it gave him no time to grieve, he understood how much the others would be unable to handle their grief alone. But it was as though his speech had no effect on any of them. There was no hope reflected in any of the eyes staring back at him, no will to go on. Reluctantly realizing that there was no more he could do, Elrond left the room to do some grieving of his own.

            Left together with a silent shell for a companion, Elladan and Elrohir carried Estel back to his bed, as he was in no shape to walk. As he was set down on the mattress, the human automatically curled up, facing the direction of his departed "brother". The twins stared at him too. At great length, Elrohir finally spoke.

            "We always thought we had forever. Now forever's come and gone. And what do we have left? Nothing but broken lives and shattered dreams." He turned tear-filled eyes to the elf beside him. "Why does it always have to end like this? Why?"

            Elladan pulled the younger twin into a fierce hug, just letting him share some grief.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

            It was a sad sight you came upon, if you were to go into the healing ward. Four shattered lives, only three still alive. One would almost start to wonder if there was even hope in the room. And you would be right. There wasn't.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N: okay b4 u kill me, let me say that i never told you that Legolas would reappear in this chapter. u'll just have to b patient. btw while we're on that subject, many people seemed 2 like the idea of reincarnation. i can't do that and make it fit in with where the story is leading to, but how about he pops up in a dream, eh? that's really the best i can do. wada ya think?