Chapter 29
"You!" the elf exclaimed as he raised an accusing finger towards Elladan.
"You're the culprit!" He had seen the exposed ring that Elladan wore on his neck.
"Wait, let me explain," Elladan said as he backed away from the furious elf.
"Did you know what you did to my brother? Did you? Look at him!" the elf yelled furiously as he yanked Elladan by his collar and turned him around roughly to face Legolas.
"Please, you need to listen," Arwen tried to reason with the elf but the elf cut her off.
"I don't need to hear anything from you. You have done enough," the elf snapped.
"Guards!" the elf shouted loudly towards the door. Soon enough, a group of guards came running into the room.
"Yes my prince?" One of the guard asked.
Arwen wore a shocked expression on her face. "Prince? You're... Taelas."
Taelas did not acknowledge her but said to the guards," Take them to the dungeons. I'll deal with them later."
"No, please, hear us out," Elrohir shouted as he was dragged away by the guards.
Elladan tried to protest," Please, take only me. They don't have anything to do with this."
But Taelas only said to the guards," Take them away."
The guards led them out and Taelas went to his brother's bed and sat down on the bedside. He took Legolas' hand and kissed it while with another free hand, caressed his brother's forehead.
"What do I do, Las? What can I do?" Taelas asked softly with a sigh at the end of the question.
With another kiss on Legolas' forehead, Taelas left the room to go to the dining room in search for his family members and Lord Elrond.
With each step he took, he thought of what he should tell his family and just what they'll reaction would be.
'They'll be shock, that's for sure. But what to do about Elladan?' he thought desperately to himself. Should they punish Elladan? But Elrond was a family friend. 'Adar promised not to blame Elladan.'
He reached the door to the dining room and stood there for a moment. He was afraid to open the door and step into the room. But his family must know about Elladan. It was not fair to keep it a secret from them. But was it the best idea?
Taelas sighed and thought,' Why did it had to be me to find out? Right. Elladan should have told us when he had the chance. He had every chance to tell us but he didn't. It is only right that we know. That they know.'
With a new determination, Taelas opened the door and entered the dining room.
His family members and Elrond were seated at the dining table. The mood was glum and they appear to be talking softly.
"Taelas, there you are. The food's about to be ready. I believe we should get our young guests from the library," King Thranduil said when he saw his son walked into the dining room.
"That won't be necessary, Adar," Taelas said.
"What do you mean? They must be starving by now," Thranduil said with a confused look on his face.
But Taelas on sighed heavily and replied gloomily," I've made a rather shocking discovery. I believe I've found out the identity of Legolas' lover."
Everyone at the table gasped and stood up but Taelas was keeping his gaze on Lord ELrond. He saw the expression of defeat on Elrond's face and heard a rather loud sigh escaping Elrond's lips.
"Who was it?" Both Thranduil and Romion demanded the answer.
But Taelas kept his gaze on Elrond and when Elrond met his gaze, he said," Lord Elrond, I believe you have something to explain to my family."
All gazes were upon the Lord of Rivendell.
"El... Elrond?" Thranduil stammered. Then he asked in disbelief," You mean to tell me it was Elrond?"
"NO! Of course not!" ELrond said quickly, if not for the circumstances, he would've laughed at the idea. "I am sorry Thranduil for not saying this earlier but the one that had stolen Legolas' heart was my son... Elladan."
The royal family, with an exception of Taelas, wore the same shock expression on their faces, eyes wide opened and jaws dropped open.
"And you knew all along?!" Romion yelled as he moved towards the Lord of Rivendell.
Thranduil asked as he tried to restrain Romion from doing anything stupid, like hitting Elrond," Why didn't you tell us?!"
Elrond answered calmly," I wanted to. I was just waiting for a chance. And, I didn't know how to begin."
"What do you mean you don't know how to begin?! You could've just told us!"
"You knew about the curse! How could you let this happened?!"
"You should've stopped them!"
The dining hall was loud with accusations, questions and angry remarks by the furious royal family members.
Elrond did not say anything. He just took in all the words that was hauled against him and sighed.
He caught Thranduil's gaze. The king looked sad and disappointed but he nodded at him. Elrond nodded back at the king.
Thranduil knew how Elrond must've felt because he was also a father. His son had done wrong and as a father, he had the responsibility to see that what was wrong was righted. But now, he had no power to right the wrong that his son had done.
"Where're they?" Thranduil asked Taelas as he raised his hand to silenced his sons. They queited down.
"I told the guards to take them to the dungeons," Taelas replied.
Thranduil nodded. Even though Elrond feared for them but he knew they would not be harmed unless the order was from the king.
"Guards!" Thranduil shouted to the guards posted outside the door. Two guards came into the dining room and Thranduil ordered them," Go to the dungeons and bring me the young elves that Prince Taelas imprisoned just a while ago."
The guards acknowledged the order and bowed before they left the dining hall.
After waiting for a while, the guards finally returned with the twins, Arwen and Haldir.
They bowed to the king and Thranduil dismissed the guards.
"I believe you have something to tell me, young Elladan," Thranduil said with an expression no one can read in to.
Elladan licked his lips as he was nervous with this confrontation with the royal family.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know it would come to this," Elladan said slowly as he looked up to Thranduil's face.
"How did you think it would've been?" Thranduil snapped at him. He could feel the tension rising in the room but he had forbade his sons to say anything.
"Just... just not like this. Legolas, on a bed, dying. Just not like this," Elladan said as tears flow freely down his cheeks.
When no one said anything, Elladan spoke again," I love him. I love him so very much."
As soon as he finished that sentence, a fist came flying, connected to his jaw and send him tumbling to the floor. Before he could recover, he felt legs kicking into him. It was painful but he did not make a sound. He felt as if he deserved it.
Elladan could hear his siblings and friend protesting against the person or persons beating him, but he knew they could not have done anything.
"You loved him?! How could you let this happen to him if you loved him?! Why did he leave you then if you loved him?!" He could hear Kaimion yelling and shouting these words and he concluded that it must have been Kaimion who was assaulting him.
"Kaimion! Stop it!" he heard Thranduil shouted and the kicking stopped.
Drawing whatever dignity he had left, Elladan stood up but the pain made him wobble a little and grab a chair to steadied himself. He saw that his sister was crying and they were restrained by Haifirion and Naramin.
Elrond was looking else where while Thranduil, Romion and Taelas was simply looking at the scene that had unfolded before them.
Suddenly a guard came in and announced," My king, Prince Legolas had awaken."
All of those in the room gave a sigh of relief. Then King Thranduil said," We'll be there shortly." Then Thranduil gestured them to follow him to see Legolas. Legolas was all that mattered to the king right now.
But Romion had other plans. Before anyone could move, Romion spoke," You said you loved my brother, Elladan. To what extend do you love my brother?"
Elladan answered without hesitation," With my life."
Romion gave him a small smile before saying," Very well. I think I speak for my family that we want you to prove your undying love for my dear brother."
Elladan thought for a moment before he replied," I agree for I take it you do not trust me. What do I have to do to get your approval then?"
Romion looked over to his father and then to his brothers. Then he said," You know that we possesses magic, my brothers and I. But what you might not know is that each of us were given a possession of a different kind of poison each. You do not have to know why we possesses such an item but we do. Only we, have the antidote to our own poison. No others have the antidote, this I can promise you."
He waited for a while for the information to be digested by his listeners. Then he continued," Being a keeper of my brothers, I have in my possession, their poison for safekeeping. Now, what I don't have, even a little, is the antidote. If you really love my brother, you will swallow it, Legolas' poison. Since he is awake, we shall tell him of your 'illness' and if he loves you like you love him, he shall give you the antidote."
"What?" Elrohir, Arwen and Haldir chorused.
"Romion..." Thranduil tried to protest but Romion cut him off," Don't worry, Adar. I know what I'm doing."
"You can't do this. Elladan, please, you can't do this. Adar, tell him he can't do this," Elrohir yelled frantically.
But Elrond sighed in defeat, shook his head and said," It's up to Elladan. I have no say in this."
Arwen,"But..."
"No!" Elladan snapped at his siblings. Then as he turned to face Romion, he said," Very well. If that's what I need to do, I will do it. Give me the poison."
Romion looked at him and took out something from the pocket of his tunic," I kept this for Legolas. I thought he might've needed it."
It was a rather large brown, round and pill-like thing and he handed it to Elladan. Elladan accepted it and with a last look at his father and siblings, he swallowed the poison.
"Kai, Nari, bring Legolas here," Romion said to his brothers and they quickly went off to fetch their brother.
Suddenly, Elladan screamed in pain and doubled over while clutching his stomach. He kneeled on the ground, his hands still on his stomach.
"Ell!" Arwen, Elrohir and Haldir went to Elladan. Elrond looked distraught but he did not go near his son.
"I'm fine," Elladan said but then he screamed again, as he clutched his stomach tighter.
"Hold on, Ell. Legolas is coming. Hold on," Arwen tried to soothed his brother by placing her forehead touching his.
"You did this to him!" Haldir yelled as he tried to lunged for Romion but Romion ducked his assault.
"Now you know how we felt when we saw Legolas on his death bed. Such a terrible feeling, isn't it? To know that he's in pain but you can't do anything to help him or to ease away the pain that he's suffering." Romion taunted them.
Elladan trashed around on the floor and screamed again in pain.
Then suddenly, the door swung open and Naramin came rushing in, followed by Kaimion, who was carrying Legolas.
"Elladan..." Legolas croaked softly. Hearing his name spoken by the voice he loved so much, Elladan looked up.
Kaimion put his brothers gently on the ground, next to Elladan and led Arwen, Elrohir and Haldir away.
"Elladan, what happened to you?" Legolas asked weakly.
"My love, you've awaken. I've waited for so long to see you. I love you, my love. I love you," Elladan said as he panted for breath. Then he screamed in pain again.
Legolas tried to hold on to him tightly but Elladan was trashing around rather wildly. When Elladan had stopped trashing and screaming about, he asked weakly, this time with a worried tone," What's going on?"
"I took your poison. Romion said only you have the antidote. Only you can save me," Elladan explained slowly.
Legolas was confused," What? What poison? I have the antidote? But I don't have any antidote?"
This time it was Elladan who was confused," But Romion said..." this time he finally realized that Romion had tricked him.
"What does he mean? What does he mean he does not have the antidote?" Arwen asked frantically.
"You tricked him?! You bloody bastard! You tricked him!" Elrohir was yelling and tried to confront Romion but he was restrained by Kaimion.
Legolas was crying now," Why? Why, Romion? Why did you do this?"
Romion tried to hold back his tears and replied," I only did it to protect you, my little one. This way you and he can be together forever."
"NOOOOO! This is not right! He is not supposed to die! He cannot die!" Legolas cried in protest as he tighten his grip on Elladan," Give him the antidote, Romi. The antidote to save him."
Romion shook his head sadly and said," There is no antidote. This is an irreversible poison. There is no known antidote."
"You're lying!" Legolas yelled with all the energy that he could muster.
But Elladan only smiled at him and said weakly," It's fine, my angel. It really is. Your brother was right you know. I love you with my life and if I have to give up my life to be with you, I'd give it up willingly."
"No, no, no... Please don't die, Elladan. Please... I don't want you to die. I don't want you to die," Legolas sobbed and he buried his face into the crook of Elladan's neck.
"Don't worry, my angel. Just remember that I love you and I always will," a teary-eyed Elladan said slowly for he was weak and his energy was draining from him.
Legolas sobbed harder and his fragile body trembled with each sob," I love you, Elladan. I love you!"
As the last tear drop from the corner of Elladan's eye, he slumped in Legolas' embrace.
"NO!!!!!!" Legolas yelled as he rocked Elladan's body. The sounds from his surrounding was drowned out.
"Please, Elladan. I love you. I love you," Legolas whispered with his last breath of energy.
Then, like his lover, his body slumped lifelessly to the floor.
TBC...
Dun dun dun dun.....
The next chapter shall be the ending to this fan fiction. I hope you guys are well prepared for the ending I have in store for you...
Review, please?
Oh! Just to let you guys know, the next story I'm going to work on is The Route of Love. No, it was not finished, only temporarily stopped coz I don't have the time to maintain two WIP fics. So this is ending next chapter, I shall have time to concentrate on it then.
"You!" the elf exclaimed as he raised an accusing finger towards Elladan.
"You're the culprit!" He had seen the exposed ring that Elladan wore on his neck.
"Wait, let me explain," Elladan said as he backed away from the furious elf.
"Did you know what you did to my brother? Did you? Look at him!" the elf yelled furiously as he yanked Elladan by his collar and turned him around roughly to face Legolas.
"Please, you need to listen," Arwen tried to reason with the elf but the elf cut her off.
"I don't need to hear anything from you. You have done enough," the elf snapped.
"Guards!" the elf shouted loudly towards the door. Soon enough, a group of guards came running into the room.
"Yes my prince?" One of the guard asked.
Arwen wore a shocked expression on her face. "Prince? You're... Taelas."
Taelas did not acknowledge her but said to the guards," Take them to the dungeons. I'll deal with them later."
"No, please, hear us out," Elrohir shouted as he was dragged away by the guards.
Elladan tried to protest," Please, take only me. They don't have anything to do with this."
But Taelas only said to the guards," Take them away."
The guards led them out and Taelas went to his brother's bed and sat down on the bedside. He took Legolas' hand and kissed it while with another free hand, caressed his brother's forehead.
"What do I do, Las? What can I do?" Taelas asked softly with a sigh at the end of the question.
With another kiss on Legolas' forehead, Taelas left the room to go to the dining room in search for his family members and Lord Elrond.
With each step he took, he thought of what he should tell his family and just what they'll reaction would be.
'They'll be shock, that's for sure. But what to do about Elladan?' he thought desperately to himself. Should they punish Elladan? But Elrond was a family friend. 'Adar promised not to blame Elladan.'
He reached the door to the dining room and stood there for a moment. He was afraid to open the door and step into the room. But his family must know about Elladan. It was not fair to keep it a secret from them. But was it the best idea?
Taelas sighed and thought,' Why did it had to be me to find out? Right. Elladan should have told us when he had the chance. He had every chance to tell us but he didn't. It is only right that we know. That they know.'
With a new determination, Taelas opened the door and entered the dining room.
His family members and Elrond were seated at the dining table. The mood was glum and they appear to be talking softly.
"Taelas, there you are. The food's about to be ready. I believe we should get our young guests from the library," King Thranduil said when he saw his son walked into the dining room.
"That won't be necessary, Adar," Taelas said.
"What do you mean? They must be starving by now," Thranduil said with a confused look on his face.
But Taelas on sighed heavily and replied gloomily," I've made a rather shocking discovery. I believe I've found out the identity of Legolas' lover."
Everyone at the table gasped and stood up but Taelas was keeping his gaze on Lord ELrond. He saw the expression of defeat on Elrond's face and heard a rather loud sigh escaping Elrond's lips.
"Who was it?" Both Thranduil and Romion demanded the answer.
But Taelas kept his gaze on Elrond and when Elrond met his gaze, he said," Lord Elrond, I believe you have something to explain to my family."
All gazes were upon the Lord of Rivendell.
"El... Elrond?" Thranduil stammered. Then he asked in disbelief," You mean to tell me it was Elrond?"
"NO! Of course not!" ELrond said quickly, if not for the circumstances, he would've laughed at the idea. "I am sorry Thranduil for not saying this earlier but the one that had stolen Legolas' heart was my son... Elladan."
The royal family, with an exception of Taelas, wore the same shock expression on their faces, eyes wide opened and jaws dropped open.
"And you knew all along?!" Romion yelled as he moved towards the Lord of Rivendell.
Thranduil asked as he tried to restrain Romion from doing anything stupid, like hitting Elrond," Why didn't you tell us?!"
Elrond answered calmly," I wanted to. I was just waiting for a chance. And, I didn't know how to begin."
"What do you mean you don't know how to begin?! You could've just told us!"
"You knew about the curse! How could you let this happened?!"
"You should've stopped them!"
The dining hall was loud with accusations, questions and angry remarks by the furious royal family members.
Elrond did not say anything. He just took in all the words that was hauled against him and sighed.
He caught Thranduil's gaze. The king looked sad and disappointed but he nodded at him. Elrond nodded back at the king.
Thranduil knew how Elrond must've felt because he was also a father. His son had done wrong and as a father, he had the responsibility to see that what was wrong was righted. But now, he had no power to right the wrong that his son had done.
"Where're they?" Thranduil asked Taelas as he raised his hand to silenced his sons. They queited down.
"I told the guards to take them to the dungeons," Taelas replied.
Thranduil nodded. Even though Elrond feared for them but he knew they would not be harmed unless the order was from the king.
"Guards!" Thranduil shouted to the guards posted outside the door. Two guards came into the dining room and Thranduil ordered them," Go to the dungeons and bring me the young elves that Prince Taelas imprisoned just a while ago."
The guards acknowledged the order and bowed before they left the dining hall.
After waiting for a while, the guards finally returned with the twins, Arwen and Haldir.
They bowed to the king and Thranduil dismissed the guards.
"I believe you have something to tell me, young Elladan," Thranduil said with an expression no one can read in to.
Elladan licked his lips as he was nervous with this confrontation with the royal family.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know it would come to this," Elladan said slowly as he looked up to Thranduil's face.
"How did you think it would've been?" Thranduil snapped at him. He could feel the tension rising in the room but he had forbade his sons to say anything.
"Just... just not like this. Legolas, on a bed, dying. Just not like this," Elladan said as tears flow freely down his cheeks.
When no one said anything, Elladan spoke again," I love him. I love him so very much."
As soon as he finished that sentence, a fist came flying, connected to his jaw and send him tumbling to the floor. Before he could recover, he felt legs kicking into him. It was painful but he did not make a sound. He felt as if he deserved it.
Elladan could hear his siblings and friend protesting against the person or persons beating him, but he knew they could not have done anything.
"You loved him?! How could you let this happen to him if you loved him?! Why did he leave you then if you loved him?!" He could hear Kaimion yelling and shouting these words and he concluded that it must have been Kaimion who was assaulting him.
"Kaimion! Stop it!" he heard Thranduil shouted and the kicking stopped.
Drawing whatever dignity he had left, Elladan stood up but the pain made him wobble a little and grab a chair to steadied himself. He saw that his sister was crying and they were restrained by Haifirion and Naramin.
Elrond was looking else where while Thranduil, Romion and Taelas was simply looking at the scene that had unfolded before them.
Suddenly a guard came in and announced," My king, Prince Legolas had awaken."
All of those in the room gave a sigh of relief. Then King Thranduil said," We'll be there shortly." Then Thranduil gestured them to follow him to see Legolas. Legolas was all that mattered to the king right now.
But Romion had other plans. Before anyone could move, Romion spoke," You said you loved my brother, Elladan. To what extend do you love my brother?"
Elladan answered without hesitation," With my life."
Romion gave him a small smile before saying," Very well. I think I speak for my family that we want you to prove your undying love for my dear brother."
Elladan thought for a moment before he replied," I agree for I take it you do not trust me. What do I have to do to get your approval then?"
Romion looked over to his father and then to his brothers. Then he said," You know that we possesses magic, my brothers and I. But what you might not know is that each of us were given a possession of a different kind of poison each. You do not have to know why we possesses such an item but we do. Only we, have the antidote to our own poison. No others have the antidote, this I can promise you."
He waited for a while for the information to be digested by his listeners. Then he continued," Being a keeper of my brothers, I have in my possession, their poison for safekeeping. Now, what I don't have, even a little, is the antidote. If you really love my brother, you will swallow it, Legolas' poison. Since he is awake, we shall tell him of your 'illness' and if he loves you like you love him, he shall give you the antidote."
"What?" Elrohir, Arwen and Haldir chorused.
"Romion..." Thranduil tried to protest but Romion cut him off," Don't worry, Adar. I know what I'm doing."
"You can't do this. Elladan, please, you can't do this. Adar, tell him he can't do this," Elrohir yelled frantically.
But Elrond sighed in defeat, shook his head and said," It's up to Elladan. I have no say in this."
Arwen,"But..."
"No!" Elladan snapped at his siblings. Then as he turned to face Romion, he said," Very well. If that's what I need to do, I will do it. Give me the poison."
Romion looked at him and took out something from the pocket of his tunic," I kept this for Legolas. I thought he might've needed it."
It was a rather large brown, round and pill-like thing and he handed it to Elladan. Elladan accepted it and with a last look at his father and siblings, he swallowed the poison.
"Kai, Nari, bring Legolas here," Romion said to his brothers and they quickly went off to fetch their brother.
Suddenly, Elladan screamed in pain and doubled over while clutching his stomach. He kneeled on the ground, his hands still on his stomach.
"Ell!" Arwen, Elrohir and Haldir went to Elladan. Elrond looked distraught but he did not go near his son.
"I'm fine," Elladan said but then he screamed again, as he clutched his stomach tighter.
"Hold on, Ell. Legolas is coming. Hold on," Arwen tried to soothed his brother by placing her forehead touching his.
"You did this to him!" Haldir yelled as he tried to lunged for Romion but Romion ducked his assault.
"Now you know how we felt when we saw Legolas on his death bed. Such a terrible feeling, isn't it? To know that he's in pain but you can't do anything to help him or to ease away the pain that he's suffering." Romion taunted them.
Elladan trashed around on the floor and screamed again in pain.
Then suddenly, the door swung open and Naramin came rushing in, followed by Kaimion, who was carrying Legolas.
"Elladan..." Legolas croaked softly. Hearing his name spoken by the voice he loved so much, Elladan looked up.
Kaimion put his brothers gently on the ground, next to Elladan and led Arwen, Elrohir and Haldir away.
"Elladan, what happened to you?" Legolas asked weakly.
"My love, you've awaken. I've waited for so long to see you. I love you, my love. I love you," Elladan said as he panted for breath. Then he screamed in pain again.
Legolas tried to hold on to him tightly but Elladan was trashing around rather wildly. When Elladan had stopped trashing and screaming about, he asked weakly, this time with a worried tone," What's going on?"
"I took your poison. Romion said only you have the antidote. Only you can save me," Elladan explained slowly.
Legolas was confused," What? What poison? I have the antidote? But I don't have any antidote?"
This time it was Elladan who was confused," But Romion said..." this time he finally realized that Romion had tricked him.
"What does he mean? What does he mean he does not have the antidote?" Arwen asked frantically.
"You tricked him?! You bloody bastard! You tricked him!" Elrohir was yelling and tried to confront Romion but he was restrained by Kaimion.
Legolas was crying now," Why? Why, Romion? Why did you do this?"
Romion tried to hold back his tears and replied," I only did it to protect you, my little one. This way you and he can be together forever."
"NOOOOO! This is not right! He is not supposed to die! He cannot die!" Legolas cried in protest as he tighten his grip on Elladan," Give him the antidote, Romi. The antidote to save him."
Romion shook his head sadly and said," There is no antidote. This is an irreversible poison. There is no known antidote."
"You're lying!" Legolas yelled with all the energy that he could muster.
But Elladan only smiled at him and said weakly," It's fine, my angel. It really is. Your brother was right you know. I love you with my life and if I have to give up my life to be with you, I'd give it up willingly."
"No, no, no... Please don't die, Elladan. Please... I don't want you to die. I don't want you to die," Legolas sobbed and he buried his face into the crook of Elladan's neck.
"Don't worry, my angel. Just remember that I love you and I always will," a teary-eyed Elladan said slowly for he was weak and his energy was draining from him.
Legolas sobbed harder and his fragile body trembled with each sob," I love you, Elladan. I love you!"
As the last tear drop from the corner of Elladan's eye, he slumped in Legolas' embrace.
"NO!!!!!!" Legolas yelled as he rocked Elladan's body. The sounds from his surrounding was drowned out.
"Please, Elladan. I love you. I love you," Legolas whispered with his last breath of energy.
Then, like his lover, his body slumped lifelessly to the floor.
TBC...
Dun dun dun dun.....
The next chapter shall be the ending to this fan fiction. I hope you guys are well prepared for the ending I have in store for you...
Review, please?
Oh! Just to let you guys know, the next story I'm going to work on is The Route of Love. No, it was not finished, only temporarily stopped coz I don't have the time to maintain two WIP fics. So this is ending next chapter, I shall have time to concentrate on it then.
