Ok, sorry I took so long to post! Wow, LEDlorien7, 4 reviews at once? As a response, If you've ever heard the saying We never know the worth of water until the well is dry you'll know what the title is about. I think it's in the next chapter (ch. 6) that the title really starts to show.
Again, sorry I took soooooo long to post, but everyone- go thank Leafy- she got me started writing after a serious bout of writers block.
Well, here's chapter five- and guess who's POV it's from (mostly)? (Numesse, this chapter's for you! And you too, Bob.)
Author's note: I don't know what elves do when another elf dies, so I kinda made it up.
The Worth Of Water
Chapter 5
Blind
As the elves and human rode up to the house, Lord Elrond Peredhel was there, fervently hoping it was not true. However, he could hardly deny the feeling he'd had the previous day- he'd felt his son die.
~ ~ ~ Flashback~ ~ ~
There was a knock on the door of his study. Come in, Elrond called.
The door swung open and Glorfindel strode in. he said, matter-of-factly, The food stores are low. We do not have enough meat. Or vegetables, for that matter, but there is little we can do about that.
It has been taken care of. I sent out a hunting party earlier, led by Elentir. Edheldhim was in it, also.
They are much lower than that, my lord, the elf replied, One hunt won't be enough, and winter is coming on fast. Because of that early frost, many of the plants withered and the harvest was not as it should be. He sat down in a chair across from Elrond. The bottom line is, we have enough to last through Girithron [December] but no more. We need at least one other party out there.
Outside in the hall, there was a crash and the two elves could hear the laughter of those outside. Oohh! You're gonna get it now, gwanur dithen [little brother], that's ada's [father's] favorite vase!
Elrond groaned and rubbed his temples. His sons were driving him slowly into insanity. Send my sons, he said wearily. Glorfindel nodded, and left the room, bringing the news to the Aragorn and the twins. Elrond heard his voice, calm as ever, drifting through the wall. ...are low. You three better bring back the biggest deer... Elrond stopped listening. What he wouldn't give for a day away from those three. Maybe he could send them to Mirkwood to visit Prince Legolas...Aragorn would like that, but the human would most likely come home in pieces.
A few minutes later, Glorfindel stepped back inside. Well, if they don't bring back enough deer to feed the Shire for a week, I'll be very surprised.
What did you say? Elrond inquired, hoping to use the technique later for getting his sons out of his hair.
I told them that it was a contest: to see who could bring back the biggest deer in twenty-four hours. The elf grinned mischievously. As you can imagine, they were out of here like a shot- each claiming that he would win and the others would lose pitifully.
Elrond laughed so hard he couldn't breathe. When he caught his breath, he stood up and draped his arm over Glorfindel's shoulder. My friend, you are a genius.
Several hours later, Elrond had called another conference with Glorfindel, and they once again were discussing the problem of food. Then, shortly after the sun set, it happened.
Glorfindel was talking, but suddenly that was not what Elrond was hearing. He was hearing the shrieks of orcs. And instead of Glorfindel, he saw flashes of a scene:
There were easily fifty orcs, all attacking something– or someone. His first glimpse of the victim came as one of the orcs shoved a knife into it's prey's abdomen. Elrond cried, and suddenly, he was in Elrohir's place, feeling the pain of the dagger and the poison. He heard Elladan's enraged scream and Estel's cry as they raced into the scene. Then everything went dark.
Glorfindel watched, stunned, as Elrond's eyes went out of focus, and the lord of Rivendell fell to his knees, crying, He quickly became alarmed as the older elf slumped backwards onto the floor. My lord, he cried, jumping out of his chair and bending over the other elf. Elrond, can you hear me?! Elrond did not respond. Glorfindel swore. I am not a healer, he muttered, and, deciding it was best to leave Elrond there and go get one, he dashed out of the door.
~ ~ ~End Flashback~ ~ ~
Elrond stood, staring at the company, looking over each sad, weary face, until his gaze lighted on Estel, who was holding the body of Elrohir. Elrond's face went white as he rushed over to the human. Numbly, he felt the still form of his son, tracing the outlines of his face with two fingers. All the elves present could see the tears welling up in his eyes.
Gently, Estel placed Elrohir on the grass. Oh, Ada, he sobbed, throwing his arms around his adopted father. I-we didn't mean it...we tried, Ada, we tried. Estel continued to sob into his father's shoulder. Elrond held his youngest son close to him, tears streaming down his cheeks. Elladan stepped forward out of the group, dry-eyed, and Elrond paced a hand on the remaining twin's shoulder.
The rest of the company left them silently, returning the horses to the stables.
* * * * * *
Lithtinwë finished brushing her horse. She brushed her horse everyday- it was soothing, especially when she was sad. She stepped out of the stable into the sunlight. It should have cheered her some, but not today. It seemed totally inappropriate. She found herself, much to her surprise, wishing it would rain. Not watching where she was going, she bumped into Reneal. she mumbled, and started to walk away.
Reneal caught her arm. Tin, wait, he said, using her nickname.
Lithtinwë looked up at him, and suddenly found herself clutching him and crying into his shoulder. Reneal was a little taken aback at first, but he embraced her, and let her cry her heart out.
* * * * * *
They buried Elrohir the next day. Elrond dug the hole at the foot of Elrohir's favorite tree, the pretty little apple tree by the waterfall. Estel gently lowered his brother in and Lithtinwë,hands shaking slightly,filled in the hole. Until he looked closely at his son, Elrond had thought the moisture on his cheeks was merely spray from the fall, but now he could see the tears. Surveying the gathered elves, he had the feeling that someone was missing, but he couldn't figure out who. One by one, all of the elves of Imladris placed a flower on top of the grave. When only he and Estel were left, he realized who wasn't there.
Elladan had not come to his brother's funeral.
* * * * * *
Elrond found Elladan in his room, silently staring out the window. he said softly.
His son turned and looked at him, but his eyes didn't focus. he said simply, acknowledging his father.
Elrond stared hard into his son's eyes. He hadn't noticed it before, but there was something wrong. A sudden thought struck him. Elladan, can you see me? he asked, sharply.
Yes, ada, came the reply. Elladan returned to staring out the window.
Look at me. Elrond's tone was stern, now. Elladan, you may be able to see me, but you cannot see me clearly. Why didn't you tell anyone? Why didn't you tell me?
It doesn't matter.
It does, ion nin [my son]. If this continues, you will go completely blind and then you will never get your sight back. As it stands now, I can halt the process, and, if you're lucky, cure it. But you've waited too long to be certain of regaining your sight.
Sight doesn't matter anymore. Nothing does.
Elrond was quickly becoming concerned. He realized, suddenly, that Elladan was blaming himself for Elrohir's death, and it was only making matters worse. he said, trying one final time to get something out of his son. Elladan, Elrohir would not want to to go blind. He would not want you to blame yourself, because it is not your fault.
This got a reaction. Elladan turned angrily on his father. Don't talk to me about Elrohir! Then, chest heaving, he sank down onto his bed, his face in his hands. Just leave, ada, he said quietly. Just leave.
TBC....
