I looked around the field. The sounds of battle died away, and a blood freezing, pained shriek filled the air, and froze my entire body. I knew only too well what had just made that noise, and I turned my head to the source of the sound. I watched, horrorstruck, as Gil-galad, my king and surrogate father, screamed and writhed in Sauron's hand. He fell to the ground, and it seemed as if the entire battle just stopped. The hosts of the Eldar all froze, just as I did, and watched Gil-galad fall. I kept hoping and praying that he had only fallen.

"Get up, Ereinion." I pleaded to myself. "Get up."

Despite myself, I numbly picked up my sword and charged forward. I felt Cirdan's arm around my chest as he stopped me from charging forward.

"Elrond, no! There's nothing you can do." Cirdan said.

"Yes! He's only just fallen! I have to help him!"

Cirdan tightened his grip, trying to keep me from breaking free.

"He's gone, Elrond."

I was getting angry. Why hasn't he gotten up yet? I thought to myself. A grim smile tugged my lips. Any minute now, Gil-galad would hop back up, his mocking laughter ringing through the battlefield, and he would rejoin Elendil against Sauron. I grew impatient. I kicked against Cirdan, trying to break his grasp on me. He repositioned his arms and held on.

"Let me go! I must go to him! Why hasn't he gotten back up? EREINION! EREINION!"

"He can't get up, Elrond. He can't come back."

"Stop saying that!"

Why was Cirdan acting like something was wrong with Gil-galad? Why was he pretending he wasn't going to get up?

"EREINION!" I bellowed again.

"Elrond, he won't get up, he can't." He said. His voice wavered and broke. "He can't because he's dead."

"No, he isn't. Cirdan, you must let me go to him."

"There is nothing you can do for him now. He is gone too far."

I was only vaguely aware of my sword slipping from my hand.

"No. No it's not true. It can't be."

"Elrond." Cirdan said. By the tone of his voice, I knew it was the truth; I knew he was gone. He loosened his grip on my arms as my knees gave way and I fell to the ground. Tears burned my eyes and slid down my cheeks. I bit my lip and forced myself not to cry.