Chapter 11
Belthor had been living quietly in the caves, the stream giving him water and the woods that were close gave him food and wood for fires.
He was happier than he could remember ever being, far away from the Humans that treated him badly...and his own people...everything he had heard about them made him hate them more and it made him wonder why he had nearly drowned in the river. Was it because of them? He could not think more into it hearing low voices in a light tongue; warily he hid behind a rock watching as two beings approached. One was Human, he had lived with them long enough to know but the other...he was fairer, long blond hair flowed behind him; even in the dim light of the cave he looked ethereal, with a faint glow around him.
"I hate you." the Legolas growled, still glaring at the Human.
"Not much further." Estel shook his head.
"That's what you said about ten hours ago."
"You do exaggerate mellon..." he trailed of as Legolas stopped, "What?"
"We are not alone." He whispered.
Belthor heard on...the Human walked up to the rock, he knew he had been found, then..."LEGOLAS," the warning echoed through the cave.
Legolas turned to see Elladan stalking toward him, sword drawn. This time there was no escape, the small tunnel could not have room for more than one standing. "Legolas, come on, run..." Estel urged but the Elf ignored him.
"Awwww Legolas, nowhere to run, you cannot turn...you will die in here..."
"Estel," Legolas called, "Get out of here."
"Yes little brother, do as Legolas says like a good little Human." Elladan sneered.
"Dan please, don't do this...you can get over this...it was not anyone's fault that Elrohir..." he heard something from behind and looked into a familiar pair of grey eyes. "Elrohir." He breathed.
Belthor watched in fright as the Human saw him, and wondered what he was going to do.
The two Elves that had heard Aragorn whisper turned to see what he did.
"Elrohir," Elladan's voice trembled with emotion, "Ai Elrohir, it is so good to see you again brother." He moved closer, shifting past Aragorn. He reached out to embrace his twin but the younger pulled back. "Elrohir?" he looked to see fear behind the stormy grey eyes he knew too well.
"I-I-I don't know what you're saying." He spoke in the common tongue.
"Elrohir, it's me, Elladan...your twin...don't you remember?" he tried again, in the same language.
The younger shook his head and backed away further, "Please...don't hurt me..."
"Come on Ro...stop messing around...we have to go home..."
"Not...going back...I won't..." he whispered.
"What happened to you?" he whispered, pain filled his eyes.
"Please...just leave me alone...leave me alone..." he whispered, moving to the back of the cave and curling in on himself.
"Dan," Estel placed a hand on his shoulder, "Come on, perhaps we should leave..."
"NO." he glared, "I am not leaving my brother. Not here...not like this...you go if you want but I will not." He sat next to his twin and spoke in Westron. "I don't know what happened to you Ro, but I am not leaving you until you remember, I have spent so long looking for you...I won't go home without you."
"Don't want to go." Belthor whispered.
"Why not?"
"Evil...Elves...so evil...kill...murder..."
"Oh Ro, you know that is not true...in your heart you know the truth..."
"No...you'll...they said..."
"What? Who said what?" he demanded fiercely, his tone caused the younger twin to recoil.
"P-p-please...Just leave me alone." He started shaking.
"Elrohir..."
"My name is Belthor...please...I just want to be left alone."
"Come on Elladan," Estel tried again, "there is nothing we can do for him."
"No," he knocked the man away, who connected painfully with the cave wall.
The ground started trembling.
"Estel, Dan, come on," Legolas said with urgency.
"Come on Ro," Elladan forcefully dragged the younger, protesting Elf from the cave as the roof started collapsing.
The four started to run, trying to dodge the falling rocks, which in a small tunnel was proving to be difficult.
A small rock tore at Elrohir who fell into a side of the wall hitting his head on a jagged ledge, blood streamed from his left temple.
Elladan steadied the younger and pulled him back as the caves cascaded before them, blocking the exit.
"This is why I hate caves." Legolas yelled to the man who just rolled his eyes and pushed his friend out of a side entrance in the tunnel, just as a small rock fell on his arm, tearing the material away, and drawing blood. The shaking stopped.
"Are you alright?" Legolas asked seeing the entrance crumble.
"Dan, Ro?" Estel called, "can you here me? Are you alright?" he frantically pulled at the rocks.
"Estel?" Elladan called back, "We're fine...we've got to find another way out..."
"As long as you are alright." Estel nodded and turned back to Legolas. "How are you bearing up?"
"Fine. We should see if we can find another exit and wait for the twins."