We Never Know The Worth Of Water
...until the well is dry.
Disclaimer: Don't own any Tolkien, never will.
Rating: PG-13 for some violence, not extremely graphic, but it is there.
Summary: AU. Pre-LotR. The hunting trip goes terribly wrong. Orcs were a lot closer to Rivendell than anyone thought...**Character death**
Note to Readers: This is my first fic, and what a way to start a career of Fanfiction. It's not great writing, but please please please review!
Many thanks to my beta, Mariana Nimeneth
Chapter One
The Deer And The Consequences
"Elladan, it went that way. I'm sure of it." Elrohir pointed to the right of the path.
"The deer went that way, Elrohir," replied Elladan, somewhat testily, pointing in the opposite direction. "Have you gone blind, brother?"
"Brother, it is you that have gone blind. The deer went right. Didn't it, Estel?"
"I didn't see which way it went," announced the human, shooting meaningful glances at his brothers. "Don't drag me into it."
Elrohir spotted the lie at once. "Estel, you saw it. Which way did it go? It went right, didn't it."
"I said not to drag me into your bickering," Estel snapped.
"Very well," said Elladan, angrily. "I'll go left, and Elrohir the Blind will go right. Estel, who refuses to take a stance, will wait here for us." Estel knew better than to complain.
"Fine," Elrohir retorted. "But you'll be the laughingstock of Rivendell when I come back with the buck." With that, Elrohir turned on his heel and stomped off in a huff.
Elladan turned to Estel and said loud enough for Elrohir to hear, "Yes, Estel, I WILL show that excuse-for-an-elf what a REAL tracker is like." He glared in the direction Elrohir had gone. "Won't I."
* * * * * *
The trees cast long shadows across the path. Three hours, and not a sign of the deer. Elrohir was beginning to doubt that the deer had actually gone this way. He wouldn't admit it, but his brothers' words stung. They had not gotten into a serious fight for decades. And over a deer! Why had they gotten so worked up about a deer?
The light was fading quickly and the small animal path that he had been following had disappeared. A few more minutes, Elrohir told himself. But he could not pick up the trail again, and soon the forest had faded into the black of night.
Elrohir sighed and turned back toward the path. "It was such a big one, too," he murmured. But it wasnÕt losing the deer that he was concerned about. It was Elladan and Estel's scorn when he returned empty handed. I'll just have to laugh it off, he thought.
Suddenly, a young buck darted in front of the elf. It wasn't the one he had been chasing, but it would do. Stringing his bow and nocking an arrow, he sprinted after the deer.
The trees flew by the light footed elf as he pursued the deer. Elrohir could tell he was gaining ground. Closer...closer...perfect!
Without stopping, Elrohir drew his bow and fired. The arrow pierced the buck's heart and the creature died without a sound. "A shot worthy of the Mirkwood elves," he praised himself, moving to inspect the kill.
The wound was clean, very little blood. Hoisting the deer over his shoulders, he again turned to the path. Or, he at least started to, before he realized he didn't know in which direction the path lay. I caught a deer but got lost in the process. That'll make them laugh even harder. Well, it IS funny. And embarrassing, Elrohir thought, amused and embarrassed. Turning in a circle, he saw the trail he had made chasing the buck. It was painfully obvious. I AM an excuse for an elf, with a trail like that. At least I can find my way back now.
It was embarrassing, following his own trail, especially since it was so obvious. He hoped that Elladan hadn't caught the deer, which by now he had concluded had indeed gone the other way. He would never admit it, however.
As Elrohir reached the spot he had first seen the buck, a loud screech filled the air, coming from his right. Elrohir stopped dead in his tracks. Orcs? This close to Imladris? A second screech answered this time from behind him, and then a third, and fourth. Elrohir dropped the deer and ran as fast as his elven legs could carry him toward the path.
He was both thankful for and worried by the absence of screeches over the next minutes. On one hand, the orcs could be gone or be heading away. On the other, he couldn't tell where they were, and might run right into them.
In the dark, and not paying much attention to the ground, Elrohir stumbled on a tree root, wrenching his ankle. he steadied himself, and ran on. This time, he ran slower, and with a sight limp.
There was another screech, this time a ways ahead. Elrohir suddenly remembered that Elladan and Estel were out that way too, and felt sudden fear for them. Especially Estel. He ran faster, hoping to get there before the orcs did.
For nearly ten minutes, there was silence, save only for the light sound of Elrohir's feet on the leaf covered ground. In a small clearing, he waited for a second, hoping the orcs would give away their position.
Elrohir heard the whistling of the arrow and the twang of a bowstring an instant to late to avoid it. Pain flared in his right shoulder as the arrow struck his back, knocking him off balance and onto the ground. The orcs chose this moment to swarm out of the trees onto the elf. Rolling onto his back and then onto his feet, the elf drew his sword. Elrohir took a quick head count of the orcs and the results were not reassuring. Slicing off the head of an orc, he called for help.
* * * * * *
Estel and Elladan, who had just returned with the deer and a smug expression, heard the cry and the orcs. "Elrohir!" Elladan cried, abandoning the deer and racing into the forest with Estel on his heels.
* * * * * *
Elrohir was covered in cuts and scrapes, but the only major wound he had sustained this far was the arrow. It hurt horribly, and Elrohir was ready to scream with pain. Beheading another orc, he called again, and this time, he heard an answering call. Elladan! he thought, relieved. And most likely Estel, too. The three of us should be able to handle these orcs.
He whirled around, catching an orc on the neck, but not quite taking the head off. Orc blood spurted all over him. Revolted but unable to spare concentration, he finished the job and turned on another orc.
An arrow whistled by his ear. There was nothing he could do about the archer at the moment, so he all but ignored him, concentrating on the other orcs.
An arrow flew several feet wide of Elrohir, embedding itself in a tree. So it's not a good archer, the elf thought grimly. Like it'll do me much good, except to delay my death, if those two don't get here. Where are they? He thought, the last part near frantic.
He could feel himself beginning to tire. He should have been able to last much longer, even with his wound. Then it hit him. The arrow had been poisoned. He began to make more mistakes, as the poison did it's work, painfully spreading through his body. The orcs noticed this and moved closer, pressing their advantage. After running another orc through, he was almost not fast enough to block another's swing. Immediately, the tables turned, and the elf found himself on defensive. The only way to win on defensive was to wear your opponent down, and this was clearly not going to happen.
In forgetting about the archer, Elrohir had made a fatal mistake. Out of the blue, an arrow slammed into his chest, piercing in between his ribs. He faltered, and an orc seized his chance. The orc unsheathed his dagger and rammed it into the elf's abdomen. Elrohir gasped, and his knees gave way. He dropped his sword and clutched his stomach, feeling the warm blood flowing over his fingers. His own blood. Elrohir was in shock. He didn't see the orc raise the sword to finish him.
He also didn't see the orc slain by an arrow. Elladan and Estel burst into the clearing and joined the fray.
Elrohir's head spun, images blurring and melting into one another. I've lost too much blood. The thought skittered through his mind in an instant, and was gone. The world was a mass of pain and noise. He heard cries, though whether they were from orcs or his brothers, he couldnÕt tell. The world slowly dimmed. He was vaguely aware that the orcs had fled, and that his brothers had run over to him. The poison was all over his body, now. All he could feel was pain, all he could see was black, and all he could hear was the slowly diminishing roar of blood in his ears. "I'm sorry, Elladan," he rasped out, and collapsed into his twin's arms.
Elladan held his brother in his arms, horror painted over all his features. He watched his brother's labored, dying breaths. The poison was working, for without it, his brother wouldn't be slipping away. "Elrohir, no!" Elladan bent over his twin. "Stay, stay with me. Please, no! NO! Elrohir! You can't, you can't..." Elrohir's eyes glazed over, and his chest was still.
Elladan dissolved. Sobs wracked his body. Estel knelt next to him, tears flowing freely down his dirt and blood stained cheeks. "No!" Elladan sobbed. "No, no, no, no..."
"Elrohir," Estel whispered, in disbelief. But there was little doubt. Elrohir, son of Elrond and brother to Elladan and Estel, was dead.
To be Continued...
well, what'd you think? please review...
...until the well is dry.
Disclaimer: Don't own any Tolkien, never will.
Rating: PG-13 for some violence, not extremely graphic, but it is there.
Summary: AU. Pre-LotR. The hunting trip goes terribly wrong. Orcs were a lot closer to Rivendell than anyone thought...**Character death**
Note to Readers: This is my first fic, and what a way to start a career of Fanfiction. It's not great writing, but please please please review!
Many thanks to my beta, Mariana Nimeneth
Chapter One
The Deer And The Consequences
"Elladan, it went that way. I'm sure of it." Elrohir pointed to the right of the path.
"The deer went that way, Elrohir," replied Elladan, somewhat testily, pointing in the opposite direction. "Have you gone blind, brother?"
"Brother, it is you that have gone blind. The deer went right. Didn't it, Estel?"
"I didn't see which way it went," announced the human, shooting meaningful glances at his brothers. "Don't drag me into it."
Elrohir spotted the lie at once. "Estel, you saw it. Which way did it go? It went right, didn't it."
"I said not to drag me into your bickering," Estel snapped.
"Very well," said Elladan, angrily. "I'll go left, and Elrohir the Blind will go right. Estel, who refuses to take a stance, will wait here for us." Estel knew better than to complain.
"Fine," Elrohir retorted. "But you'll be the laughingstock of Rivendell when I come back with the buck." With that, Elrohir turned on his heel and stomped off in a huff.
Elladan turned to Estel and said loud enough for Elrohir to hear, "Yes, Estel, I WILL show that excuse-for-an-elf what a REAL tracker is like." He glared in the direction Elrohir had gone. "Won't I."
* * * * * *
The trees cast long shadows across the path. Three hours, and not a sign of the deer. Elrohir was beginning to doubt that the deer had actually gone this way. He wouldn't admit it, but his brothers' words stung. They had not gotten into a serious fight for decades. And over a deer! Why had they gotten so worked up about a deer?
The light was fading quickly and the small animal path that he had been following had disappeared. A few more minutes, Elrohir told himself. But he could not pick up the trail again, and soon the forest had faded into the black of night.
Elrohir sighed and turned back toward the path. "It was such a big one, too," he murmured. But it wasnÕt losing the deer that he was concerned about. It was Elladan and Estel's scorn when he returned empty handed. I'll just have to laugh it off, he thought.
Suddenly, a young buck darted in front of the elf. It wasn't the one he had been chasing, but it would do. Stringing his bow and nocking an arrow, he sprinted after the deer.
The trees flew by the light footed elf as he pursued the deer. Elrohir could tell he was gaining ground. Closer...closer...perfect!
Without stopping, Elrohir drew his bow and fired. The arrow pierced the buck's heart and the creature died without a sound. "A shot worthy of the Mirkwood elves," he praised himself, moving to inspect the kill.
The wound was clean, very little blood. Hoisting the deer over his shoulders, he again turned to the path. Or, he at least started to, before he realized he didn't know in which direction the path lay. I caught a deer but got lost in the process. That'll make them laugh even harder. Well, it IS funny. And embarrassing, Elrohir thought, amused and embarrassed. Turning in a circle, he saw the trail he had made chasing the buck. It was painfully obvious. I AM an excuse for an elf, with a trail like that. At least I can find my way back now.
It was embarrassing, following his own trail, especially since it was so obvious. He hoped that Elladan hadn't caught the deer, which by now he had concluded had indeed gone the other way. He would never admit it, however.
As Elrohir reached the spot he had first seen the buck, a loud screech filled the air, coming from his right. Elrohir stopped dead in his tracks. Orcs? This close to Imladris? A second screech answered this time from behind him, and then a third, and fourth. Elrohir dropped the deer and ran as fast as his elven legs could carry him toward the path.
He was both thankful for and worried by the absence of screeches over the next minutes. On one hand, the orcs could be gone or be heading away. On the other, he couldn't tell where they were, and might run right into them.
In the dark, and not paying much attention to the ground, Elrohir stumbled on a tree root, wrenching his ankle. he steadied himself, and ran on. This time, he ran slower, and with a sight limp.
There was another screech, this time a ways ahead. Elrohir suddenly remembered that Elladan and Estel were out that way too, and felt sudden fear for them. Especially Estel. He ran faster, hoping to get there before the orcs did.
For nearly ten minutes, there was silence, save only for the light sound of Elrohir's feet on the leaf covered ground. In a small clearing, he waited for a second, hoping the orcs would give away their position.
Elrohir heard the whistling of the arrow and the twang of a bowstring an instant to late to avoid it. Pain flared in his right shoulder as the arrow struck his back, knocking him off balance and onto the ground. The orcs chose this moment to swarm out of the trees onto the elf. Rolling onto his back and then onto his feet, the elf drew his sword. Elrohir took a quick head count of the orcs and the results were not reassuring. Slicing off the head of an orc, he called for help.
* * * * * *
Estel and Elladan, who had just returned with the deer and a smug expression, heard the cry and the orcs. "Elrohir!" Elladan cried, abandoning the deer and racing into the forest with Estel on his heels.
* * * * * *
Elrohir was covered in cuts and scrapes, but the only major wound he had sustained this far was the arrow. It hurt horribly, and Elrohir was ready to scream with pain. Beheading another orc, he called again, and this time, he heard an answering call. Elladan! he thought, relieved. And most likely Estel, too. The three of us should be able to handle these orcs.
He whirled around, catching an orc on the neck, but not quite taking the head off. Orc blood spurted all over him. Revolted but unable to spare concentration, he finished the job and turned on another orc.
An arrow whistled by his ear. There was nothing he could do about the archer at the moment, so he all but ignored him, concentrating on the other orcs.
An arrow flew several feet wide of Elrohir, embedding itself in a tree. So it's not a good archer, the elf thought grimly. Like it'll do me much good, except to delay my death, if those two don't get here. Where are they? He thought, the last part near frantic.
He could feel himself beginning to tire. He should have been able to last much longer, even with his wound. Then it hit him. The arrow had been poisoned. He began to make more mistakes, as the poison did it's work, painfully spreading through his body. The orcs noticed this and moved closer, pressing their advantage. After running another orc through, he was almost not fast enough to block another's swing. Immediately, the tables turned, and the elf found himself on defensive. The only way to win on defensive was to wear your opponent down, and this was clearly not going to happen.
In forgetting about the archer, Elrohir had made a fatal mistake. Out of the blue, an arrow slammed into his chest, piercing in between his ribs. He faltered, and an orc seized his chance. The orc unsheathed his dagger and rammed it into the elf's abdomen. Elrohir gasped, and his knees gave way. He dropped his sword and clutched his stomach, feeling the warm blood flowing over his fingers. His own blood. Elrohir was in shock. He didn't see the orc raise the sword to finish him.
He also didn't see the orc slain by an arrow. Elladan and Estel burst into the clearing and joined the fray.
Elrohir's head spun, images blurring and melting into one another. I've lost too much blood. The thought skittered through his mind in an instant, and was gone. The world was a mass of pain and noise. He heard cries, though whether they were from orcs or his brothers, he couldnÕt tell. The world slowly dimmed. He was vaguely aware that the orcs had fled, and that his brothers had run over to him. The poison was all over his body, now. All he could feel was pain, all he could see was black, and all he could hear was the slowly diminishing roar of blood in his ears. "I'm sorry, Elladan," he rasped out, and collapsed into his twin's arms.
Elladan held his brother in his arms, horror painted over all his features. He watched his brother's labored, dying breaths. The poison was working, for without it, his brother wouldn't be slipping away. "Elrohir, no!" Elladan bent over his twin. "Stay, stay with me. Please, no! NO! Elrohir! You can't, you can't..." Elrohir's eyes glazed over, and his chest was still.
Elladan dissolved. Sobs wracked his body. Estel knelt next to him, tears flowing freely down his dirt and blood stained cheeks. "No!" Elladan sobbed. "No, no, no, no..."
"Elrohir," Estel whispered, in disbelief. But there was little doubt. Elrohir, son of Elrond and brother to Elladan and Estel, was dead.
To be Continued...
well, what'd you think? please review...
