From The Ashes

One year after the War of the Ring, things seem to have settled until rumors surface concerning an army of darkness.  Determined to confirm or disprove these rumors, Legolas heads to Minas Tirith to counsel with Aragorn.  Meanwhile, from the ashes of Mordor comes someone long thought dead.  Elrond's mortal twin.

Note:  RPG fic, written by many authors, separated by post.

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It was nearly midnight when Elros stopped his black horse for rest, unable to go on because of his weariness. His black horse whinnied as he stumbled from the saddle, nearly collapsing to the dirt.  He pet the horse's mane gently, then searched the darkness before him.  He was mortal, but his eyes were still keen enough that he could find enough wood to burn for warmth.

He built the fire, spoke a few words and watched the sticks burst into flame. That, at least, had not been robbed of him.  Pleased, he sank to his knees and laughed at the weakness assailing him.  He wondered if Elrond would try to heal this malady. His dear brother would be sorely disappointed in the attempt.

Elros thought often of his elder brother. He knew Elrond's path, had been told by the words of his master, but his brother's heart was a mystery now.  He considered, not for the first time, forsaking Minas Tirith and heading straight to Rivendell. But his power would do little to aid him safely there if his health failed him first.  He extended his hand and felt the warmth lap at his flesh.

An hour passed before riders brought him out of his thoughts.  He looked up and saw forms heading towards his camp, undoubtedly curious as to who would be out here at this time.  He waited in patience until they were close enough to identify, then raised an eyebrow.

They were Elves. Light-haired Elves, Silvan by appearance. One drew his horse ahead of the rest, stopping before the fire. He seemed to recognize him and then Elros understood. No, he thought.  They think I am Elrond.  He smiled and tilted his head up.

~

Something about that night had been greatly unsettling to Haldir.  He was leading a patrol throughout the woods, checking the borders to make sure that nothing had crossed that shouldn't be there. There had been very few times when something or someone had gotten past the borders that shouldn't have been there, but every time, he and the others had made right the wrong. Tonight would be no different, if something had indeed gotten past.

The light from the fire drew his attention from a distance, and he held a hand up, motioning the four behind him to follow. They rode towards the source of the light. As they approached, Haldir frowned.  Was that not Lord Elrond sitting by the fire? He gave his horse a nudge forward, riding into the light.

"Lord Elrond? Why are you all the way out here?" He asked in confusion.

~

Elros stood up from the fire, bowing his head cordially to the Elf that had spoken. "I trust I have not intruded where I should not be?" he said, uncertain how he would be accepted once unmasked.  It was entirely possible they would not believe him, thinking instead the Lord of Rivendell had gone mad.

"I am not he whom you think I am," he continued, looking into the younger Elf's face.  "My name is Elros.  You are familiar with Elrond of Rivendell?"

The light-haired Elf looked on him with suspicion.  Elros smiled, then coughed.

~

Legolas felt his friend catch him as he fell, wincing when Aragorn accidentally touched a deep gash on his left arm. Holding back a groan, he quickly found himself lowered to the floor and gently held in Aragorn's lap. He dimly heard his friend call his name, but he was incapable of answering, more unconscious than awake. He never even heard Aragorn's frantic yell for Faramir.

Legolas suddenly felt himself being lifted, and what seemed only seconds later, he was carefully laid on a soft bed.

A hand pressed a cloth to the wound on his forehead, and his tunic was suddenly opened, laying bare the slash across his chest from an orc's sword.  His consciousness started to slip further away, and when his left arm was again jostled, it vanished completely.

A gentle hand touching his forehead eventually brought Legolas back to consciousness and he opened his eyes, finding himself wrapped in bandages with two very worried people looking down at him. The smell of healing herbs in the room was very strong, so Legolas knew that he hadn't been unconscious for long.

Looking up at Aragorn and Faramir, he spoke before either of his friends had a chance. "I have very grave news..."

~

Aragorn finished one of the dressings as he listened to his companion. "What news do you bring?" he asked, his tone already fearing what Legolas was to speak. It was not too far from the back of his mind that he knew the orcs would soon rally once more.  Silently, he knew how it was Legolas came to these wounds, and he so deeply regretted not seeing the threat sooner.

The gleaming crown he had worn what seemed so briefly this day rested on a large pile of white, gassy fabric for the now finished wrappings.  The healers had only just departed, leaving the King, the Steward, and the wounded Elflord alone.

~

Elros waited patiently as the Elves talked quietly amongst themselves. They seemed quite perplexed by his denial of being Lord Elrond, which was natural, of course. But this was a dangerous moment. He knew the Elves would be on guard after such a war as had happened a year ago and they could just as easily taken him against his will as to help him. He could not allow that to happen.

But he felt weary. A struggle now would be costly and draining. He prayed these Elves would adhere to reason. Their leader turned back and before he could speak, Elros said, "I will leave and continue to Minas Tirith if I have trespassed. What would you have me do?"

~

With all haste, the Queen of Gondor wove her way down the many corridors of her House to where she had been told Aragorn, Faramir and Legolas were. The only sound that could be heard was the rustle of silk upon the white marble floor as her pace slowed, at last reaching the door. From within, she heard her husband's deep voice asking, "What news did you bring?" With concern in her eyes, Arwen knocked upon the door softly before entering.

~

Haldir was taken back when he heard the stranger speak. "It's not...Elros is dead." He said shortly to him. Unless he was mistaken, but they couldn't leave him to stay alone in the woods unguarded, friend or foe. He motioned for Elros to mount up on his horse. "I will escort you to Lorien." He turned back to the elves behind him, uttering a few commands for them to keep on patrol.

He got back up on his horse, waiting for Elros. "Come." He said quietly. "We go now. It's not safe to be out here on the borders at night, no matter how well guarded it may be kept."

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Thank you, reviewers!  Yeppers, the 5 of us wrote all this, from our character's POVs…and hopefully there will be more if we get more characters going. :)  And yes, as this chapter shows, it is Elros who has returned seemingly from the dead. :D

Characters Still Available! – Galadriel, Celeborn, Rumil, Rondy's twins and more!

Players Featured In This Chapter:
Elros - Ruse - Email: jedinineofnine@hotmail.com - AIM: Mirkwood Spider
Aragorn - Estel - Email: eriestel@covad.net - AIM: EriEstel
Legolas - Deana - Email:  Deana@fanfiction.net  AIM: Gimme Legolas
Haldir - Klutzy - Email:  ranger_girl34@yahoo.com   AIM: Klutzy34
Arwen - Silrean - Email:  watasillydanagrl@aol.com  AIM:  watasillydanagrl