Sorry about the long wait, all you wonderful reviewers!! I had writer's block...again...
Leafy...Rose- I'll never get used to calling you that. Soap Operas??? Well, I can tell you one thing for sure: I can't tell you anything for sure!!! º-º Sorry, but I don't want to give anything away...but maybe there's hope...
Eneth- reveiwing for the heck of it? what's the point of that? not that I mind...
LEDlorien7- Led, that is probably the most confusing review I've ever gotten. If I hadn't been sitting next to you i would have had no idea what you were talking about...*goes back and reads review again* I just confused myself more...
Ymmas Sirron- THANKS!!!!! here it is, sorry if I kept you waiting!
WARNING: My beta has issued an official tissue warning on this chapter. consider yourself warned.
and now...on to the chapter...
Chapter 6
Broken Vases
Elrond shut the door behind him, and heard it click as Elladan locked it. Something had to be done about Elladan.
Down the stairs, he heard something crash. It's all been a dream, he thought vigorously. Any moment I'll hear Elrohir start teasing Estel about being too clumsy to be a king. He waited expectantly, quivering, quashing the little voice inside him that screamed that he was fooling himself. One minute...two minutes...three...of course, it would take Elrohir a few minutes to get there...five...six...nothing. Nothing. The elf lord's shoulders slumped, and he descended the stairs to see what was happening. Maybe, Elrohir wasn't teasing Estel this time. Maybe... At the bottom, Elrond rounded the corner.
Estel was there, by himself, silently retrieving the shards of the vase he had shattered. Close to tears, and not even looking at Elrond, he choked out, It's your favorite vase, ada.
Elrond took one look at his foster son, and knelt beside him, embracing the boy. I do not care about vases anymore, ion nin. I care about you.
This caused Estel to burst into tears. They...they always know...when I...when I break something...I thought...maybe... he sobbed into the elf-lord's shoulder, staining the maroon silk of the robe. I'm sorry ada...it was stupid... He finnally managed to control his tears, and drew a deep, shuddering breath. He rose, and backed away from his father. Ada, I...I have something to tell you. Startled, Elrond stood, eyeing is son carefully. This sounded all too much like confession for comfort. Estel continued, It's...I-I mean, all this...it's my fault. He took a deep breath, as if grateful to get this off his chest, and continued in a rush. We broke up because of an argument over the deer. I-I saw it go one way, but let Elrohir go the other, to get back at him for the vase. I let him go toward the orcs. Then, I slowed Elladan down. He would have run faster without me, but he wouldn't leave me behind. And I wasn't good enough when we were fighting, not quick enough...if I had been faster he would have lived...
Sighing, Elrond tried to explain to his son. His voice dripping with sympathy, and it sounded almost forgiving to Elrond's ears.
Don't you understand? I killed him! Estel screamed, cutting him off. Without me, he would be alive!! If I...without me, he would be here, probably breaking something, Elladan would not have shut himself in his room, Reneal would not be looking like his mother had died, Lithtinwë would not burst into tears every other minute, and you would not have to listen to my stupid, childish talk and excuses! With that, he fled down the hall and out of sight.
* * * * * *
The broken vase now lay on Elrond's desk. The lord sat running the shards through his fingers. I would not begrudge you any vase in my house, my sons, he murmured sadly, if I could bring you back. He sighed. Elladan and Estel had turned against him. Each believed that it was his fault, and would not hear differently. I am so sorry, he whispered, blinking back the threatening tears. It is not your fault. It was mine. He rested his forehead on the desk, and suddenly a thought struck him. Why cry? It felt like the world was ending, why not give up now? There was nothing left to live for, without his sons...
It was said that elves could die of a broken heart, though the lord had never seen anyone dying that way and had not belived it. Now, Elrond was sure he was.
* * * * * *
Estel sat by the waterfall. He couldn't believe what was happening. A few days, and everything had gone from wonderful to... there was no word for what he was feeling. It was a soul rending so deep, it was akin to physical pain. He had caused the death of his brother and turned on his own father... Elves could leave, they could escape, but humans... humans couldn't. They had to survive with their pain, continue on...
He could not stay in Rivendell, he was causing everyone too much pain. He would leave. Without thinking, he stood and wandered into the forest, no direction in mind. His feet walked him through the familiar paths of the forest, he hardly stumbled. Before he knew what he was contemplating, he found himself at the top of the waterfall, and realized he had been considering suicide. Vaguely, he wondered if he should jump. He wished he were an elf, to painlessly escape...if they could die of broken hearts, why couldn't humans?
Elves could die of broken hearts. Suddenly, he stood bolt upright. They could die of... he choked out. He sprinted back to the house, his sense of purpose returned. He had to live for them. They couldn't die!
* * * * * *
Elladan lay sprawled on his back in bed, blind eyes staring at nothing. It had been shortly after his father had left that he had realize that he truly was blind. Not that it mattered. He didn't matter. It was Elrond, and Estel, who mattered. Why should he live, in pain, when there was an escape?
Fully decided, he rolled over, and waited. It was only a matter of time.
* * * * * *
Elrond suddenly looked up. If he felt this bad, imagine how... he gasped and, nearly overturning his desk, ran out of the room.
Elladan's door was still locked. The elf lord knocked. Elladan? Elladan?! he asked, a knot of panic forming in his stomach. The was no answer. The room was dead silent. Elladan!! Open the door!! Still no answer. Extremely frightened now, Elrond pouned on the door. Again, no reply.
Elrond broke down the door. It crashed inward, breaking in half. Stunned for a moment, Elrond stared. And saw his son lying motionless on the bed. In two strides, he crossed the room, and knelt by his son. Quickly, he felt for a pulse, and, to his relief, found one, weak and erratic, but still there. he whispered. Come back.
Using his last ounces of strength, Elladan rolled over to face his father, blind eyes looking right through him. It's too late, he murmured, barely audible, and smiled. Good bye.
And so he died.
TBC...
